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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. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. sharp — clever
  7. suit — in cards
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. bank — for money
  10. saw — the tool
  11. ball — a dance
  12. saw — the tool
  13. rock — a stone
  14. bank — of a river
  15. tube — the underground
  16. ball — a great time
  17. suit — to fit
  18. bank — for money
  19. suit — clothes
  20. tube — a container
  21. rock — music
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. rock — to move gently

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