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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. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. shower — to wash
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. band — a rubber band
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. toast — bread
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. chair — a leader
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. shower — rain
  15. bass — the fish
  16. band — a music group
  17. band — a ring
  18. chair — a professorship
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. chair — to sit on
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. bass — low music

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