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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.

Make a worksheet

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 · rock · present · staff · safe · kid · pop · land

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. rock — a stone
  6. kid — to tease
  7. land — to come down
  8. kid — child
  9. land — ground
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. land — a country
  12. present — the time now
  13. rock — music
  14. present — a gift
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. staff — employees
  17. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. pop — to visit
  20. staff — employees
  21. present — there
  22. pop — soda
  23. staff — a stick
  24. safe — out of danger

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