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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 ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. fork — a garden tool
  3. ball — a great time
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. staff — a stick
  8. mark — a grade
  9. mug — a face
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. date — the fruit
  12. staff — employees
  13. mug — to rob
  14. fork — in a road
  15. ball — a dance
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. staff — employees
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. mug — a cup
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. wax — to grow
  23. mark — a trace
  24. mark — to pay attention

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