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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. season — in sport
  4. content — the amount
  5. lean — thin
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. root — the cause
  9. content — happy
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. root — of a plant
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. lean — to bend
  16. tube — the underground
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. root — of a word
  20. content — videos and posts
  21. tube — a container
  22. season — of the year
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. leaves — of a tree

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