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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  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. hide — animal skin
  2. land — to come down
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. mark — a trace
  6. lie — to recline
  7. prune — to trim
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. rock — music
  10. rock — a stone
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. mark — a grade
  13. land — ground
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. land — a country
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. craft — boats
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. craft — a skill
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. prune — to trim
  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