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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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. can — to be able to
  8. kick — in football
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. can — a tin
  15. wake — a trail
  16. pass — a permit
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. mine — for digging
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. can — a tin
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. kick — with a leg

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