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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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. mug — a face
  3. present — there
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. present — a gift
  6. mug — to rob
  7. cap — a lid
  8. suit — to fit
  9. can — to be able to
  10. mug — a cup
  11. can — a tin
  12. suit — in cards
  13. current — electric
  14. perch — the fish
  15. cap — of ice
  16. can — a tin
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. cap — a hat
  19. current — happening now
  20. suit — clothes
  21. current — of water
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. present — the time now

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