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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. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. cap — of ice
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. fall — to drop
  7. toast — bread
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. object — to protest
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. object — a thing
  12. staff — employees
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. object — an aim
  15. deal — to handle
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. staff — employees
  19. fall — the season
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. cap — a hat
  22. cap — a lid
  23. staff — a stick
  24. leaves — lets stay

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