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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 116 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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. When are we going to ________________?
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. key — in music
  3. land — to come down
  4. key — the most important part
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. land — ground
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. wound — an injury
  15. land — a country
  16. perch — the fish
  17. key — for a lock
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. pass — a permit
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. wound — an injury
  24. cabinet — ministers

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