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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. stem — to come from
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. track — to keep track
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. ground — a position
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. rock — music
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. rock — a stone
  17. track — a song
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. mark — a trace
  20. mark — a grade
  21. foot — a measure
  22. track — a path
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. ground — crushed

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