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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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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: suit · key · lean · mark · track · wake · shower · leaves

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. We took cover from the thunder ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. suit — to fit
  3. wake — a trail
  4. key — for a lock
  5. mark — a trace
  6. suit — in cards
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. lean — to bend
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. lean — thin
  14. mark — a grade
  15. track — a song
  16. key — the most important part
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. track — to keep track
  19. shower — to wash
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. suit — clothes
  23. track — a path
  24. shower — rain

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