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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. mate — a friend
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. mate — a partner
  5. staff — a stick
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. rest — what's left
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. lie — to recline
  11. pop — to visit
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. rest — what's left
  17. staff — employees
  18. rest — a break
  19. staff — employees
  20. pop — soda
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. mate — to breed
  24. leaves — of a tree

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