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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. He was locked up in a ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  14. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. cue — a hint
  4. cue — a signal
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. net — after costs
  7. net — for catching
  8. cue — for pool
  9. net — in sport
  10. cell — in a prison
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. rock — music
  13. cell — in biology
  14. cell — a phone
  15. rock — a stone
  16. pass — a permit
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. rush — hurry
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. pass — to succeed

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