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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. bound — obliged
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. bound — tied together
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. mug — a cup
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. mug — to rob
  12. march — music
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. march — the month
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. chip — for betting
  18. mug — a face
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. march — the month
  21. bound — certain
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. chip — to eat
  24. nail — for a hammer

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