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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 116 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. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. wake — a trail
  8. cue — a hint
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. cue — a signal
  13. stand — to bear
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. branch — a division
  19. bore — to tire
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. bore — to drill
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cue — for pool
  24. leaves — of a tree

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