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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 hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. charge — in control
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. pass — a permit
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. scale — size or range
  10. straw — to clutch at straws
  11. charge — a price
  12. season — of the year
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. charge — electricity
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. scale — in music
  22. season — in sport
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. lie — an untruth

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