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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. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. pass — a permit
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. stem — to come from
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. ball — a great time
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. can — a tin
  17. can — to be able to
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. can — a tin
  21. ball — a dance
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. rash — a series
  24. safe — out of danger

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