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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 116 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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. ground — crushed
  3. straw — a straw man
  4. ball — a dance
  5. straw — to clutch at straws
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. rock — a stone
  8. suit — clothes
  9. suit — to fit
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. ground — a position
  13. suit — in cards
  14. ball — a great time
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. rock — music
  18. straw — dry grass

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