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

Word bank: leaves · jam · fork · rock · lie · racket · bay · cell

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. He was locked up in a ________________.
  5. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. cell — in a prison
  5. fork — a garden tool
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. fork — in a road
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. cell — in biology
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. lie — to recline
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. cell — a phone
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. rock — music

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