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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. march — the month
  3. board — to get on
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. board — a committee
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. march — music
  9. rock — music
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. march — the month
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. prune — to trim
  21. rock — a stone
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. prune — to trim
  24. fan — a supporter

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