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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. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. roll — a cake
  4. roll — a list
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. season — in sport
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. rush — hurry
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. lie — to recline
  14. toast — bread
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. pit — a hole
  18. pit — in a race
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. hide — animal skin

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