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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. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. pound — to hit hard
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. lean — thin
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. pound — a weight
  7. mug — a face
  8. craft — boats
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. mug — a cup
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. mug — to rob
  13. lean — to bend
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. wound — an injury
  18. craft — a skill
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. craft — a handicraft

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