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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 works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. mark — a trace
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. suit — in cards
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. mark — a grade
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. saw — the tool
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. suit — to fit
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. season — of the year
  16. squash — the sport
  17. stand — to bear
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. suit — clothes
  22. squash — to crush
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. season — in sport

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