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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. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. mug — a cup
  3. season — of the year
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. net — after costs
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. mug — to rob
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. row — a line
  12. lean — to bend
  13. row — to paddle
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. band — a music group
  16. net — for catching
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. mug — a face
  19. net — in sport
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. band — a ring
  22. lean — thin
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. season — in sport

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