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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. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. He was locked up in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. toast — bread
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. present — the time now
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. present — there
  10. dip — to sink
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. present — a gift
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. pass — a permit
  22. cell — a phone
  23. deal — to handle
  24. cell — in a prison

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