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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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. rock — music
  6. bulb — for light
  7. suit — in cards
  8. suit — to fit
  9. bulb — for light
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. fine — all right
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. rock — a stone
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. pound — a weight
  18. suit — clothes
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. rush — hurry
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. fine — high quality
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. pound — for dogs

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