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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.

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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. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. tear — to rip
  2. mug — to rob
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. tear — from crying
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. season — of the year
  8. season — in sport
  9. key — the most important part
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. tear — from crying
  12. key — in music
  13. board — a committee
  14. board — to get on
  15. key — for a lock
  16. pass — a permit
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. mug — a cup
  23. mug — a face
  24. pass — to succeed

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