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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. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  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. lean — thin
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. wake — a trail
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. lean — to bend
  11. mate — to breed
  12. key — the most important part
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. current — happening now
  15. mate — a partner
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. mate — a friend
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. current — of water
  21. key — in music
  22. key — for a lock
  23. current — electric
  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