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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. can — a tin
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. can — a tin
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. can — to be able to
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. track — a song
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. perch — the fish
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. mine — for digging
  20. track — a path
  21. rush — hurry
  22. track — to keep track
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. rush — to hurry

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