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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. spell — a short time
  3. game — wild animals
  4. spell — magic
  5. suit — in cards
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. suit — to fit
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. lie — to recline
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. suit — clothes
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. spell — letters
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. pass — a permit
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. game — a match
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. rock — music
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. hand — in cards
  23. hand — help
  24. rock — a stone

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