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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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. cue — a hint
  4. date — the fruit
  5. cue — a signal
  6. fine — high quality
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. lean — thin
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. lean — to bend
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. mug — a face
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. cue — for pool
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. stand — to bear
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. mug — to rob
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. fine — all right
  24. mug — a cup

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