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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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. key — the most important part
  3. face — part of the head
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. face — to confront
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. key — for a lock
  9. straw — to clutch at straws
  10. key — in music
  11. straw — a straw man
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. toast — bread
  15. face — to point toward
  16. perch — the fish
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. straw — dry grass
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. rush — hurry

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