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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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. dip — to sink
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. charge — electricity
  5. roll — a list
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. charge — in control
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. charge — a price
  10. degree — from a university
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. present — a gift
  13. roll — a cake
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. degree — temperature
  17. present — the time now
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. toast — bread
  23. present — there
  24. degree — an amount

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