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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 ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. rest — what's left
  3. track — a path
  4. rest — a break
  5. track — to keep track
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. sharp — clever
  8. fall — to drop
  9. bound — certain
  10. staff — employees
  11. staff — employees
  12. bound — tied together
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. bound — obliged
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. fall — the season
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. staff — a stick
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. fall — to drop
  24. track — a song

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