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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 keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. mug — a face
  3. mug — to rob
  4. mug — a cup
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. lie — to recline
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. track — a path
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. toast — bread
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. track — a song
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. coach — a trainer

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