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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. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — moving air
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. wind — moving air
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. file — a tool
  7. file — a document
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. lie — to recline
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. wind — to turn a key
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. file — a line of people
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. rock — a stone
  18. rock — music
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. roll — a list
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. roll — a cake
  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