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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 ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. court — of law
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. key — in music
  5. suit — to fit
  6. rock — a stone
  7. field — farmland
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. field — a subject
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. key — for a lock
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. court — of a king
  15. suit — clothes
  16. field — for sport
  17. suit — in cards
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. key — the most important part
  20. court — for sport
  21. rock — music
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. safe — a strongbox

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