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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. wound — an injury
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. bear — the animal
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. wound — an injury
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. bear — the animal
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. rush — hurry
  18. wake — a trail
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. bass — the fish
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. bass — low music
  24. rush — to hurry

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