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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: leaves · object · lash · coach · net · mate · suit · bay

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. suit — clothes
  3. object — a thing
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. net — for catching
  6. mate — a friend
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. mate — to breed
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. object — to protest
  14. suit — in cards
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. net — after costs
  18. object — an aim
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. suit — to fit
  22. net — in sport
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. mate — a partner

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