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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. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. season — of the year
  3. mug — to rob
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. bass — the fish
  10. field — a subject
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. season — in sport
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. field — for sport
  15. mug — a cup
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. fine — all right
  19. wake — a trail
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. mug — a face
  22. field — farmland
  23. fine — high quality
  24. bass — low music

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