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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 116 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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. perch — the fish
  3. bound — tied together
  4. game — a match
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. current — of water
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. current — happening now
  12. season — of the year
  13. lie — to recline
  14. game — wild animals
  15. bound — certain
  16. season — in sport
  17. staff — employees
  18. bound — obliged
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. staff — employees
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. current — electric
  23. staff — a stick
  24. season — to add flavour

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