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

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. False peace will not ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. last — to go on
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. bear — the animal
  7. squash — the sport
  8. season — in sport
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. last — final
  13. squash — to crush
  14. ball — a great time
  15. season — of the year
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. last — finally
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. ball — a dance
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. bear — the animal
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. ball — a round shape

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