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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. scale — in music
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. pit — a hole
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. mug — to rob
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. season — of the year
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. mug — a cup
  13. mug — a face
  14. shower — a meteor shower
  15. pit — in a race
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. season — in sport
  19. shower — to wash
  20. scale — size or range
  21. shower — rain
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. pass — a permit
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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