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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 116 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 hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. suit — clothes
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. lean — to bend
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. current — electric
  11. lean — thin
  12. suit — to fit
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. mark — a grade
  15. current — happening now
  16. key — the most important part
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. key — in music
  19. can — a tin
  20. can — a tin
  21. suit — in cards
  22. current — of water
  23. can — to be able to
  24. key — for a lock

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