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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. pop — music
  4. date — the fruit
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. charge — a price
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. last — to go on
  11. pop — soda
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. last — final
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. last — finally
  19. charge — electricity
  20. pop — to visit
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. pit — a hole
  24. charge — in control

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