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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 party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. track — a song
  6. bear — the animal
  7. track — to keep track
  8. can — a tin
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. season — of the year
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. track — a path
  14. bear — the animal
  15. lie — to recline
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. rash — hasty
  20. lean — thin
  21. season — in sport
  22. can — a tin
  23. lean — to bend
  24. can — to be able to

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