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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  6. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. wind — moving air
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. wind — moving air
  6. wind — to turn a key
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. bear — the animal
  9. spell — a short time
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. bear — the animal
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. spell — letters
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. mate — to breed
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. spell — magic
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. mate — a partner

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