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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. mate — a friend
  3. mark — a grade
  4. fall — the season
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. mark — a trace
  7. object — to protest
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. object — a thing
  10. mate — a partner
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. fall — to drop
  15. rock — music
  16. object — an aim
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. fall — to drop
  22. mate — to breed
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. bay — a horse colour

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