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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. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. spring — of water
  3. spring — the season
  4. ground — a position
  5. ground — crushed
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. ground — the earth
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. charge — electricity
  14. charge — in control
  15. fine — high quality
  16. hand — in cards
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. spring — a coil
  19. charge — a price
  20. pass — a permit
  21. fine — all right
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. lie — to recline
  24. hand — help

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