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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. suit — to fit
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. cap — a lid
  8. roll — a list
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. bound — tied together
  12. bound — obliged
  13. track — a path
  14. track — to keep track
  15. rush — hurry
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. suit — clothes
  18. roll — a cake
  19. cap — a hat
  20. cap — of ice
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. suit — in cards
  23. track — a song
  24. bound — certain

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