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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. chest — of your body
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. drill — the tool
  7. cue — a signal
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. current — happening now
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. current — of water
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. mark — a trace
  16. chest — a box
  17. drill — army training
  18. chest — of your body
  19. cue — for pool
  20. drill — a practice
  21. lie — to recline
  22. current — electric
  23. mark — a grade
  24. cue — a hint

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