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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. court — for sport
  4. mug — a face
  5. season — in sport
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. season — of the year
  10. mug — a cup
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mug — to rob
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. court — of law
  24. court — of a king

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