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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. Did you ________________ the meat?
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. season — to add flavour
  2. content — the amount
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. lie — to recline
  5. season — of the year
  6. ball — a dance
  7. bank — for money
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. ball — a great time
  10. bank — of a river
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. content — happy
  13. can — to be able to
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. can — a tin
  18. content — videos and posts
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. can — a tin
  21. bank — for money
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. season — in sport
  24. lie — an untruth

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