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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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. saw — the tool
  4. can — a tin
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. can — a tin
  7. chip — to eat
  8. dip — to sink
  9. deal — to handle
  10. saw — the tool
  11. fall — the season
  12. can — to be able to
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. chip — for betting
  20. fall — to drop
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. fall — to drop
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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