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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. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  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. spring — a coil
  2. track — a song
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. plane — a tool
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. roll — a cake
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. track — a path
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. chip — for betting
  12. rock — a stone
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. roll — a list
  15. spring — the season
  16. chip — to eat
  17. spring — of water
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. track — to keep track
  23. hide — to keep secret
  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