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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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. mug — a cup
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. mug — a face
  5. face — part of the head
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. face — to confront
  8. deal — to handle
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. file — a line of people
  13. file — a tool
  14. branch — a division
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. mug — to rob
  19. face — to point toward
  20. file — a document
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. coach — a trainer

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