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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. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — of water
  2. roll — a list
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. spring — the season
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. spring — a coil
  12. roll — a cake
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. net — after costs
  16. mark — a grade
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. net — in sport
  21. net — for catching
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. mark — a trace
  24. deal — to handle

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