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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 116 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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. can — a tin
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. saw — the tool
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. fall — to drop
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. can — a tin
  15. pass — a permit
  16. saw — the tool
  17. fall — the season
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. can — to be able to
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. fall — to drop

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