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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. bound — obliged
  8. charge — a price
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. perch — the fish
  14. bear — the animal
  15. bear — the animal
  16. bound — certain
  17. charge — electricity
  18. charge — in control
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. bound — tied together
  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