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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 ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. saw — the tool
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. charge — in control
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. wound — an injury
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. saw — the tool
  14. foot — a measure
  15. cap — a lid
  16. cap — of ice
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. cap — a hat
  20. charge — a price
  21. snap — to click
  22. wound — an injury
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. charge — electricity

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