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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 120 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: mate · cell · leaves · fan · key · tube · wave · mark

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. He was locked up in a ________________.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. mate — to breed
  3. cell — a phone
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. cell — in biology
  6. mate — a friend
  7. mark — a grade
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. key — the most important part
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. tube — a container
  14. mark — a trace
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. tube — the underground
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. mate — a partner
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. cell — in a prison
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. key — in music
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. fan — to cool the air

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