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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. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. track — a song
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. board — to get on
  7. track — a path
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. track — to keep track
  11. pop — music
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. dip — to sink
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. bear — the animal
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. board — a committee
  19. pop — soda
  20. bear — the animal
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. safe — out of danger

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