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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. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. key — for a lock
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. key — in music
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. track — to keep track
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. track — a path
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. toast — bread
  14. key — the most important part
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. mine — for digging
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. track — a song
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. rock — a stone
  24. rock — music

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