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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 120 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 hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. track — a song
  7. staff — employees
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. mug — a cup
  10. wake — a trail
  11. staff — employees
  12. mark — a grade
  13. track — a path
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. prune — to trim
  16. branch — a division
  17. staff — a stick
  18. mug — to rob
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. mug — a face
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. track — to keep track
  24. prune — to trim

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