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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. track — a path
  5. face — to point toward
  6. track — to keep track
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. cue — a signal
  9. land — to come down
  10. mug — a cup
  11. cue — for pool
  12. land — ground
  13. cue — a hint
  14. mug — to rob
  15. stand — to bear
  16. face — part of the head
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. land — a country
  20. face — to confront
  21. mug — a face
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. track — a song

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