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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. net — in sport
  4. ball — a dance
  5. cue — a hint
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. saw — the tool
  8. saw — the tool
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. net — for catching
  11. cue — a signal
  12. charge — in control
  13. stand — to bear
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. charge — electricity
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. charge — a price
  19. cue — for pool
  20. ball — a great time
  21. wake — a trail
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. net — after costs

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