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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The ball is in your ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. court — for sport
  3. suit — to fit
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. current — electric
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. bass — the fish
  9. suit — clothes
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. plane — a tool
  12. court — of law
  13. bass — low music
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. fine — all right
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. suit — in cards
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. current — happening now
  21. fine — high quality
  22. current — of water
  23. court — of a king
  24. fine — a penalty

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