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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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. track — to keep track
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. tube — the underground
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. toast — bread
  10. track — a song
  11. stand — to bear
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. suit — clothes
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. tube — a container
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. suit — to fit
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. track — a path
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. suit — in cards

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