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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 116 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. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. track — a song
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. current — electric
  6. suit — in cards
  7. field — for sport
  8. suit — clothes
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. field — a subject
  11. suit — to fit
  12. press — newspapers
  13. scale — in music
  14. track — to keep track
  15. press — to push
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. current — of water
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. current — happening now
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. press — a publisher
  22. scale — size or range
  23. track — a path
  24. field — farmland

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