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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. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. fall — to drop
  3. plane — a tool
  4. cue — for pool
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. saw — the tool
  8. suit — in cards
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. bear — the animal
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. saw — the tool
  13. suit — to fit
  14. cue — a hint
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. cue — a signal
  17. bulb — for light
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. bulb — for light
  20. suit — clothes
  21. bear — the animal
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. fall — the season

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