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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 120 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. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. game — wild animals
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. last — to go on
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. staff — employees
  13. staff — employees
  14. last — finally
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. rush — hurry
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. game — a match
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. last — final
  24. staff — a stick

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