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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 116 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 who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. cue — for pool
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. fall — the season
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. fine — high quality
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. cue — a hint
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. bass — the fish
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. bass — low music
  20. fall — to drop
  21. plane — a tool
  22. cue — a signal
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. fine — all right

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