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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 chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. fine — high quality
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. rush — hurry
  5. game — a match
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. firm — a company
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. rule — a law
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. game — wild animals
  17. rule — government
  18. fine — all right
  19. firm — decided
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. date — the fruit
  23. firm — steady
  24. date — on the calendar

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