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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. David sat on the ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. swing — to play on
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. perch — the fish
  6. rest — what's left
  7. swing — music
  8. kick — with a leg
  9. rock — music
  10. kick — in football
  11. swing — in golf
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. mate — to breed
  17. rest — a break
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. rock — a stone
  22. mate — a partner
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. rest — what's left

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