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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. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. mug — a face
  6. sharp — clever
  7. ground — crushed
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. mug — to rob
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. mug — a cup
  14. squash — to crush
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. squash — the sport
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. ground — the earth
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. ground — a position

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