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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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. file — a document
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. file — a line of people
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. key — the most important part
  10. squash — the sport
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. track — a path
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. track — a song
  15. key — in music
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. squash — to crush
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. file — a tool
  20. key — for a lock
  21. hand — help
  22. track — to keep track
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. hand — in cards

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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