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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 116 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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. field — farmland
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. rash — a series
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. saw — the tool
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. rush — hurry
  10. mark — a trace
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. mark — a grade
  15. field — a subject
  16. rash — hasty
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. vault — a safe
  20. field — for sport
  21. saw — the tool
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. hide — animal skin

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