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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. spell — letters
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bear — the animal
  6. spell — magic
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. saw — the tool
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. saw — the tool
  13. fine — high quality
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. can — to be able to
  16. can — a tin
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. spell — a short time
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. bear — the animal
  21. can — a tin
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. fine — all right

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