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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 116 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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. mate — to breed
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. key — in music
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. squash — to crush
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. key — the most important part
  14. squash — the sport
  15. season — of the year
  16. mark — a trace
  17. mate — a friend
  18. mark — a grade
  19. key — for a lock
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. mate — a partner
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. season — in sport
  24. bay — a horse colour

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