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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 speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. dip — to sink
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. mug — a face
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. mug — to rob
  9. key — for a lock
  10. mug — a cup
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. ground — crushed
  16. ground — a position
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. branch — a division
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. ground — the earth
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. key — the most important part
  24. key — in music

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