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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. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. bear — the animal
  3. present — there
  4. net — after costs
  5. net — for catching
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. band — a music group
  8. bear — the animal
  9. plane — a tool
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. present — a gift
  12. net — in sport
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. present — the time now
  16. season — of the year
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. band — a ring
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. season — in sport
  24. rush — hurry

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