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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 120 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 information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. file — a document
  3. wake — a trail
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. track — a path
  9. stock — goods
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. stock — shares
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. track — a song
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. file — a line of people
  18. file — a tool
  19. cue — for pool
  20. track — to keep track
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. cue — a hint
  23. cue — a signal
  24. hide — to keep secret

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