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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  14. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  15. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  16. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  21. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. straw — to clutch at straws
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. chair — a leader
  14. chair — a professorship
  15. straw — a straw man
  16. band — a rubber band
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. ground — crushed
  19. ground — a position
  20. straw — dry grass
  21. chair — to sit on
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. band — a music group
  24. band — a ring

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