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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. current — electric
  3. ball — a dance
  4. current — of water
  5. rest — what's left
  6. rest — what's left
  7. club — a group
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. lie — to recline
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. ball — a great time
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. rest — a break
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. club — for dancing
  21. current — happening now
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. club — for golf
  24. stand — to bear

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