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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 116 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. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. track — a path
  3. spell — magic
  4. track — to keep track
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. key — in music
  7. cue — for pool
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. spell — a short time
  11. lean — thin
  12. spell — letters
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. key — for a lock
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. cue — a signal
  19. cue — a hint
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. lean — to bend
  22. key — the most important part
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. track — a song

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