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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. drill — a practice
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. rush — hurry
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. pit — in a race
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. pit — a hole
  15. drill — the tool
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. drill — army training
  24. dip — to sink

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