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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. fall — to drop
  3. pass — a permit
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. mate — a friend
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. fall — the season
  9. toast — bread
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. fall — to drop
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. bear — the animal
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. bear — the animal
  21. mate — a partner
  22. mate — to breed
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. pass — to spend time

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