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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. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. He was locked up in a ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  24. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — a phone
  2. row — a line
  3. suit — to fit
  4. suit — in cards
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. suit — clothes
  9. rock — a stone
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. cell — in a prison
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. ball — a dance
  14. rock — music
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. ball — a great time
  17. season — in sport
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. season — of the year
  23. row — to paddle
  24. cell — in biology

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