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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. rock — music
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. snap — to click
  7. pass — a permit
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. ground — crushed
  16. ground — a position
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. rock — a stone
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. stand — to bear
  24. ground — the earth

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