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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. file — a tool
  3. pit — in a race
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. cue — a signal
  6. hand — help
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. file — a document
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. pit — a hole
  13. cue — a hint
  14. cue — for pool
  15. land — to come down
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. land — ground
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. land — a country
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. file — a line of people
  23. hand — in cards
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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