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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 always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. mark — a grade
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. mate — a partner
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. club — for dancing
  9. fine — high quality
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. club — a group
  15. mate — a friend
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. mate — to breed
  18. club — for golf
  19. lie — to recline
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. fine — all right
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. mark — a trace

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