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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. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. cap — a lid
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. cap — a hat
  5. rock — music
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. rock — a stone
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. face — part of the head
  14. face — to confront
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. bear — the animal
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. face — to point toward
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. cap — of ice
  24. ruler — for measuring

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