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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 is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. cue — for pool
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. lean — to bend
  5. face — part of the head
  6. mate — a friend
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. cue — a hint
  10. last — finally
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. face — to point toward
  13. last — to go on
  14. mate — a partner
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. mate — to breed
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. last — final
  19. face — to confront
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. cue — a signal
  24. leaves — lets stay

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