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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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. foot — a measure
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. bulb — for light
  5. shower — to wash
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. rush — hurry
  9. shower — rain
  10. drill — a practice
  11. cap — a hat
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. drill — the tool
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. drill — army training
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. cap — of ice
  21. cap — a lid
  22. bulb — for light
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. foot — part of the body

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