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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. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. club — a group
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. club — for golf
  5. shower — rain
  6. suit — clothes
  7. suit — to fit
  8. club — for dancing
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. bound — certain
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. season — of the year
  15. shower — to wash
  16. suit — in cards
  17. bound — obliged
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. season — in sport
  21. bound — tied together
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. leaves — of a tree

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