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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. game — wild animals
  6. stock — goods
  7. wake — a trail
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. mark — a grade
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. mark — a trace
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. mug — to rob
  17. mug — a face
  18. game — a match
  19. stock — shares
  20. mug — a cup
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. fan — a supporter

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