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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. plane — a tool
  3. mark — a trace
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. straw — to clutch at straws
  6. press — to push
  7. mark — a grade
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. march — the month
  11. suit — to fit
  12. straw — a straw man
  13. press — newspapers
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. suit — clothes
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. straw — dry grass
  21. march — the month
  22. press — a publisher
  23. march — music
  24. suit — in cards

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