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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. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  21. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. can — a tin
  4. key — in music
  5. roll — a list
  6. march — the month
  7. key — for a lock
  8. spring — a coil
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. key — the most important part
  12. can — to be able to
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. roll — a cake
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. dip — to sink
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. can — a tin
  20. march — the month
  21. march — music
  22. spring — of water
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. dip — a sauce

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