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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 116 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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  8. The ball is in your ________________.
  9. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  24. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. spring — of water
  4. spring — a coil
  5. club — for dancing
  6. mug — to rob
  7. court — of a king
  8. court — for sport
  9. club — a group
  10. suit — clothes
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. mug — a cup
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. suit — in cards
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. club — for golf
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. mug — a face
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. rush — hurry
  23. spring — the season
  24. court — of law

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