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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 120 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. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  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. season — of the year
  2. season — in sport
  3. drill — a practice
  4. craft — a skill
  5. craft — boats
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. pass — a permit
  10. rock — a stone
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. bulb — for light
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. pit — in a race
  18. bulb — for light
  19. drill — army training
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. pit — a hole
  22. rock — music
  23. drill — the tool
  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