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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. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. object — a thing
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. rash — a series
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. rash — hasty
  11. object — an aim
  12. season — in sport
  13. toast — bread
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. object — to protest
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. cabinet — ministers

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