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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. mug — to rob
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. key — the most important part
  5. net — in sport
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. season — of the year
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. pound — to hit hard
  10. mug — a face
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. net — after costs
  13. key — in music
  14. net — for catching
  15. key — for a lock
  16. rash — hasty
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. pound — a weight
  19. mug — a cup
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. season — in sport
  22. rash — a series
  23. pound — for dogs
  24. hide — to keep secret

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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