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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: pit · nail · leaves · safe · rock · suit · roll · game

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. rock — a stone
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. rock — music
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. roll — a cake
  8. suit — clothes
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. suit — to fit
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. roll — a list
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. pit — in a race
  17. game — a match
  18. pit — a hole
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. game — wild animals
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. suit — in cards

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