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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 120 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. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. shower — rain
  4. mug — to rob
  5. rock — a stone
  6. rock — music
  7. mug — a cup
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. mug — a face
  10. track — a path
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. can — to be able to
  13. saw — the tool
  14. track — a song
  15. track — to keep track
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. can — a tin
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bass — low music
  20. can — a tin
  21. bass — the fish
  22. shower — to wash
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. hide — animal skin

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