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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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. roll — a list
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. wake — a trail
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. board — to get on
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. board — a committee
  13. stock — shares
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. march — music
  17. mug — to rob
  18. mug — a cup
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. stock — goods
  21. march — the month
  22. mug — a face
  23. roll — a cake
  24. leaves — to go away

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