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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 124 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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. spring — the season
  3. wake — a trail
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. spring — of water
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. chest — of your body
  8. mate — a friend
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. object — an aim
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. spring — a coil
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. mate — to breed
  16. object — to protest
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. mate — a partner
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. chest — a box
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. chest — of your body
  24. racket — a loud noise

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