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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. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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. kick — a thrill
  4. bank — of a river
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. track — a path
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. bank — for money
  9. track — a song
  10. current — of water
  11. fine — all right
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. ball — a dance
  14. kick — in football
  15. current — happening now
  16. toast — bread
  17. fine — high quality
  18. current — electric
  19. ball — a great time
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. kick — with a leg
  23. bank — for money
  24. track — to keep track

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