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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. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. lie — to recline
  3. bear — the animal
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. bank — of a river
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. mark — a trace
  10. bear — the animal
  11. mug — to rob
  12. drill — the tool
  13. drill — a practice
  14. capital — a city
  15. mug — a face
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. capital — money
  18. bank — for money
  19. mug — a cup
  20. bank — for money
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. mark — a grade
  23. drill — army training
  24. capital — a big letter

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