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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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. key — in music
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. bore — to drill
  10. key — for a lock
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. bore — to tire
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. ball — a dance
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. key — the most important part
  20. ball — a great time
  21. foot — a measure
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. ball — a round shape

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