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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. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for golf
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. fine — all right
  7. rash — a series
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. rash — hasty
  12. club — for dancing
  13. fine — high quality
  14. club — a group
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. plane — a tool
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. season — of the year
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. season — in sport
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. bay — a horse colour

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