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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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  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. leaves — to go away
  2. can — a tin
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. bank — of a river
  5. mark — a trace
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. mate — a friend
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. face — to confront
  12. can — to be able to
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. saw — the tool
  15. bank — for money
  16. mate — to breed
  17. face — part of the head
  18. can — a tin
  19. bank — for money
  20. face — to point toward
  21. mate — a partner
  22. saw — the tool
  23. mark — a grade
  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