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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. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. bulb — for light
  6. roll — a list
  7. ball — a dance
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. fall — to drop
  10. fall — the season
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. swing — in golf
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. ball — a great time
  16. swing — to play on
  17. fall — to drop
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. bulb — for light
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. swing — music

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