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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 refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. rock — a stone
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. straw — to clutch at straws
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. sharp — clever
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. straw — a straw man
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. season — in sport
  17. season — of the year
  18. rock — music
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. straw — dry grass
  21. mug — to rob
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. mug — a face
  24. leaves — of a tree

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