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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. can — a tin
  3. rock — music
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. wake — a trail
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. can — a tin
  8. rock — a stone
  9. net — for catching
  10. can — to be able to
  11. net — in sport
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. last — to go on
  15. net — after costs
  16. bulb — for light
  17. cap — a hat
  18. cap — of ice
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. last — finally
  21. bulb — for light
  22. last — final
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. cap — a lid

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