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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. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  6. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. lean — to bend
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. field — farmland
  6. field — a subject
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. rash — hasty
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. suit — in cards
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. lean — thin
  14. suit — to fit
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. suit — clothes
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. field — for sport
  23. plane — a tool
  24. rash — a series

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