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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 120 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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. scale — size or range
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. can — a tin
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. can — to be able to
  10. stock — goods
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. object — a thing
  13. object — to protest
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. stock — shares
  17. key — for a lock
  18. key — the most important part
  19. scale — in music
  20. object — an aim
  21. can — a tin
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. key — in 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