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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 120 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. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. bark — to shout
  3. pop — soda
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. pop — to visit
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. pop — music
  14. fall — to drop
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. fall — the season
  19. dip — to sink
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. fall — to drop
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. leaves — to go away

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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