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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. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. stock — goods
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. mate — a friend
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. suit — clothes
  12. stock — shares
  13. lie — to recline
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bulb — for light
  17. mate — a partner
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. foot — a measure
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. suit — to fit
  22. suit — in cards
  23. mate — to breed
  24. hide — animal skin

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