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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 still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a ring
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. suit — clothes
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. suit — to fit
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. root — of a word
  11. stand — to bear
  12. band — a rubber band
  13. charge — in control
  14. root — the cause
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. sharp — clever
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. charge — a price
  20. band — a music group
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. root — of a plant
  23. charge — electricity
  24. suit — in cards

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