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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. pop — music
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. mug — a face
  11. mug — to rob
  12. pass — a permit
  13. pop — to visit
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. scale — size or range
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. mug — a cup
  19. pop — soda
  20. scale — in music
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. pass — to spend time

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