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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. rest — what's left
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. rest — a break
  5. fine — high quality
  6. spring — a coil
  7. fine — all right
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. rock — music
  11. spring — the season
  12. spring — of water
  13. bear — the animal
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. bear — the animal
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. rock — a stone
  21. rash — a series
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. rash — hasty
  24. rest — what's left

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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