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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. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. drill — a practice
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. rock — music
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. drill — army training
  9. season — of the year
  10. season — in sport
  11. cap — a lid
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. toast — bread
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. mark — a grade
  17. drill — the tool
  18. cap — a hat
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. mark — a trace
  22. rock — a stone
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. cap — of ice

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