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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: present · swing · leaves · rash · safe · bark · mouse · pop

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. David sat on the ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. swing — music
  3. pop — to visit
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. swing — in golf
  6. present — a gift
  7. present — there
  8. rash — a series
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. pop — soda
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. rash — hasty
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. present — the time now
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. bark — to shout
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. swing — to play on
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. pop — 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