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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: track · bore · leaves · toast · jam · suit · fall · degree

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. degree — an amount
  3. bore — to drill
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. fall — the season
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. suit — in cards
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. bore — to tire
  13. track — a path
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. degree — temperature
  16. suit — clothes
  17. fall — to drop
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. track — to keep track
  20. track — a song
  21. suit — to fit
  22. degree — from a university
  23. fall — to drop
  24. toast — bread

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