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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 works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. pit — a hole
  3. saw — the tool
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. rock — a stone
  7. firm — decided
  8. shower — to wash
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. staff — a stick
  14. rush — hurry
  15. firm — a company
  16. staff — employees
  17. firm — steady
  18. shower — rain
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. rock — music
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. staff — employees
  23. pit — in a race
  24. pit — a fruit 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