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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. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. track — a song
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. bear — the animal
  7. rock — a stone
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. track — a path
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. rock — music
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. track — to keep track
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. mate — to breed
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. mine — for digging
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. bear — the animal
  23. mate — a partner
  24. mate — a friend

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