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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. track — to keep track
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. track — a song
  7. season — in sport
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. firm — decided
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. season — of the year
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. bark — to shout
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. track — a path
  20. firm — steady
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. firm — a company

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com