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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. key — in music
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. fork — in a road
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. squash — to crush
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. stem — to come from
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. squash — the sport
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. rush — hurry
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. key — for a lock
  22. key — the most important part
  23. stand — to bear
  24. fork — to eat with

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