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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. rash — a series
  4. field — farmland
  5. bank — for money
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. bank — of a river
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. fine — high quality
  14. can — a tin
  15. can — to be able to
  16. rash — hasty
  17. bank — for money
  18. lie — to recline
  19. field — a subject
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. fine — all right
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. field — for sport

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