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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. pop — to visit
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. mark — a trace
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. pass — a permit
  8. mark — a grade
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. pop — music
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. wake — a trail
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. foot — a measure
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. pop — soda
  24. hide — to keep secret

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