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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. suit — clothes
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. land — a country
  8. tear — to rip
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. press — newspapers
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. suit — to fit
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. press — to push
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. suit — in cards
  17. land — ground
  18. tear — from crying
  19. land — to come down
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. date — the fruit
  23. press — a publisher
  24. tear — from crying

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