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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 don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. fine — all right
  9. kid — child
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. kid — to tease
  14. stand — to bear
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. date — the fruit
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. foot — a measure
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. fine — high quality

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