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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. squash — the sport
  4. can — a tin
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. saw — the tool
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. staff — a stick
  11. pass — a permit
  12. saw — the tool
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. toast — bread
  15. staff — employees
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. mine — for digging
  18. staff — employees
  19. squash — to crush
  20. can — a tin
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. toast — the most admired

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