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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 ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  22. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — the animal
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. suit — to fit
  5. stand — to bear
  6. ball — a dance
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. suit — clothes
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. tube — a container
  13. suit — in cards
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. tube — the underground
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. prune — to trim
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. ball — a great time
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. bat — in an idiom
  22. bat — for baseball
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. prune — to trim

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