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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. bulb — for light
  6. charge — a price
  7. charge — electricity
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. row — to paddle
  10. cue — a signal
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. cue — a hint
  14. row — a line
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. branch — a division
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. charge — in control
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. bulb — for light
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. cue — for pool
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. branch — 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