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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 ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. rock — a stone
  3. mug — a face
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. band — a ring
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. band — a music group
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. court — of law
  11. court — of a king
  12. snap — to click
  13. band — a rubber band
  14. mug — to rob
  15. court — for sport
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. rest — a break
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. rest — what's left
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. rock — music
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. mug — a cup
  24. rest — what's left

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