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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 ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. He was locked up in a ________________.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. row — a line
  3. spell — a short time
  4. cell — in biology
  5. root — the cause
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. pass — a permit
  8. spell — letters
  9. bass — low music
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. mark — a grade
  12. row — to paddle
  13. spell — magic
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. cell — in a prison
  16. root — of a plant
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. root — of a word
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. mark — a trace
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. cell — a phone
  23. bass — the fish
  24. mark — to pay attention

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