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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. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. prune — to trim
  3. board — a committee
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. cue — a signal
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. board — to get on
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. cue — a hint
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. rush — hurry
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. prune — to trim
  24. cue — for pool

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