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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.

Make a worksheet

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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: court · leaves · mine · wave · rest · toast · safe · dip

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The ball is in your ________________.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  13. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. toast — bread
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. court — for sport
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. mine — for digging
  10. dip — to sink
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. court — of law
  13. court — of a king
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. rest — what's left
  19. rest — what's left
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. rest — a break
  24. safe — out of danger

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