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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. row — to paddle
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. court — of law
  11. row — a line
  12. court — for sport
  13. can — to be able to
  14. court — of a king
  15. can — a tin
  16. mine — for digging
  17. toast — bread
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. can — a tin
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. hide — to keep secret

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