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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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. rush — hurry
  6. march — the month
  7. lean — thin
  8. lean — to bend
  9. saw — the tool
  10. mug — to rob
  11. mate — a friend
  12. mate — to breed
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. fine — high quality
  15. season — in sport
  16. mug — a face
  17. march — music
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. mug — a cup
  20. fine — all right
  21. mate — a partner
  22. season — of the year
  23. saw — the tool
  24. season — to add flavour

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