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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 116 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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. rock — music
  7. ball — a great time
  8. cue — for pool
  9. net — in sport
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. cue — a signal
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. rock — a stone
  14. lie — to recline
  15. net — for catching
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. cue — a hint
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. net — after costs
  20. ball — a dance
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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