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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. The water is too ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. court — of a king
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. suit — clothes
  7. cold — the Cold War
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. cold — not warm
  11. suit — in cards
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. stock — goods
  14. saw — the tool
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. court — for sport
  17. stock — shares
  18. foot — a measure
  19. cold — an illness
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. suit — to fit
  22. court — of law
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. stock — a soup base

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