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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. track — a song
  5. suit — to fit
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. rock — a stone
  9. rash — a series
  10. track — a path
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. rock — music
  15. suit — clothes
  16. prune — to trim
  17. prune — to trim
  18. track — to keep track
  19. suit — in cards
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. rash — hasty
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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