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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. file — a document
  4. foot — a measure
  5. pit — in a race
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. file — a tool
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. pit — a hole
  14. chip — for betting
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. file — a line of people
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. pass — a permit
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. toast — bread
  22. chip — to eat
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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