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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 ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. pop — soda
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. prune — to trim
  7. suit — in cards
  8. pop — music
  9. saw — the tool
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. bound — obliged
  12. saw — the tool
  13. prune — to trim
  14. pop — to visit
  15. wake — a trail
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. bound — certain
  18. suit — clothes
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. suit — to fit
  24. bound — tied together

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