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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. There's no middle ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. ground — a position
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. land — a country
  5. can — a tin
  6. face — to confront
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. land — ground
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. land — to come down
  12. mark — a trace
  13. can — to be able to
  14. ground — crushed
  15. face — part of the head
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. ground — the earth
  18. can — a tin
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. mark — a grade
  22. face — to point toward
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. mark — to pay attention

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