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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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. saw — the tool
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. current — happening now
  7. spell — magic
  8. bound — obliged
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. bound — tied together
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. spell — a short time
  13. bound — certain
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. spell — letters
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. current — of water
  18. saw — the tool
  19. current — electric
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. stand — to bear

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