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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. season — in sport
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. perch — the fish
  7. toast — bread
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. cue — for pool
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. cue — a signal
  17. rash — a series
  18. rash — hasty
  19. cue — a hint
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. season — of the year
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. toast — the most admired

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