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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 carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. rest — what's left
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. mate — a friend
  5. cap — a lid
  6. mate — a partner
  7. mug — a face
  8. cap — a hat
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. mug — a cup
  13. mug — to rob
  14. rest — a break
  15. mate — to breed
  16. track — a song
  17. rest — what's left
  18. cap — of ice
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. track — to keep track
  22. stem — to come from
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. track — a path

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