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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. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. row — a quarrel
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. charge — a price
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. charge — in control
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. row — to paddle
  16. deal — to handle
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. row — a line
  22. rush — hurry
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. charge — electricity

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