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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  24. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. can — to be able to
  3. mug — to rob
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. can — a tin
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. firm — a company
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. saw — the tool
  10. fine — all right
  11. firm — steady
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. degree — an amount
  14. can — a tin
  15. mug — a face
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. mug — a cup
  18. saw — the tool
  19. wake — a trail
  20. firm — decided
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. fine — high quality
  23. degree — temperature
  24. degree — from a university

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