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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 120 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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. current — of water
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. march — music
  9. face — part of the head
  10. march — the month
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. bulb — for light
  13. current — electric
  14. pass — a permit
  15. bulb — for light
  16. march — the month
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. face — to point toward
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. current — happening now
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. face — to confront
  24. mouse — the animal

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