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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. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. board — to get on
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — a tin
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. track — to keep track
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. track — a path
  12. track — a song
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. deal — to handle
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. can — to be able to
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. board — a committee
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. stem — to come from
  24. hide — animal skin

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