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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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  10. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. face — to confront
  3. chair — to sit on
  4. spell — magic
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. rush — hurry
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. face — part of the head
  9. club — a group
  10. chair — a professorship
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. club — for dancing
  13. mug — a face
  14. club — for golf
  15. mug — to rob
  16. face — to point toward
  17. spell — letters
  18. spell — a short time
  19. bear — the animal
  20. chair — a leader
  21. mug — a cup
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. bear — to put up with

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