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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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. track — a song
  3. suit — clothes
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. track — to keep track
  6. can — to be able to
  7. ball — a great time
  8. suit — to fit
  9. can — a tin
  10. track — a path
  11. kick — in football
  12. root — of a plant
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. root — of a word
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. kick — a thrill
  17. can — a tin
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. ball — a dance
  21. root — the cause
  22. suit — in cards
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. kick — with a leg

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