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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. mine — for digging
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. file — a document
  11. chip — for betting
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. chip — to eat
  15. file — a tool
  16. cue — a hint
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. bulb — for light
  20. file — a line of people
  21. cue — a signal
  22. bulb — for light
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. cue — for pool

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