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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. object — to protest
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. pass — a permit
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. field — a subject
  10. object — an aim
  11. field — farmland
  12. field — for sport
  13. stand — to bear
  14. bound — certain
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. object — a thing
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. bound — tied together
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. bound — obliged

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