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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 ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. swing — music
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. can — to be able to
  7. swing — to play on
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. stock — goods
  11. swing — in golf
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. stock — shares
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — a tin
  20. pass — a permit
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. pass — to spend time

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