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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. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. row — to paddle
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. stand — to bear
  10. mine — for digging
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. row — a line
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. key — for a lock
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. key — in music
  17. plane — a tool
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. key — the most important part
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. pit — in a race
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. mine — belonging to me

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