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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. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. spell — a short time
  9. toast — bread
  10. present — there
  11. squash — the sport
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. present — the time now
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. squash — to crush
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. spell — magic
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. spell — letters

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