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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. saw — the tool
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. rock — music
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. rock — a stone
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. rush — hurry
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. plane — a tool
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. saw — the tool
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. temple — a place of worship

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