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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 · pass · firm · nail · present · wake · roll · last

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. False peace will not ________________.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. present — there
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. last — finally
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. present — the time now
  10. wake — a trail
  11. pass — a permit
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. firm — a company
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. last — final
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. firm — decided
  21. firm — steady
  22. roll — a cake
  23. last — to go on
  24. present — a gift

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