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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. spell — a short time
  3. root — of a plant
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. spell — magic
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. mug — a face
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. mug — to rob
  13. bound — obliged
  14. shower — to wash
  15. shower — rain
  16. spell — letters
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. mug — a cup
  20. root — the cause
  21. bound — tied together
  22. root — of a word
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. hide — animal skin

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