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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. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. bat — the animal
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. bank — of a river
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. bear — the animal
  8. bank — for money
  9. toast — bread
  10. bat — in an idiom
  11. bank — for money
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. foot — a measure
  14. rash — a series
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. rash — hasty
  17. bear — the animal
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. bat — for baseball
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. rash — on the skin

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