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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. saw — the tool
  5. can — a tin
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. degree — an amount
  9. key — the most important part
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. key — in music
  12. can — to be able to
  13. degree — temperature
  14. can — a tin
  15. sharp — clever
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. fine — high quality
  19. fine — all right
  20. degree — from a university
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. key — for a lock
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. saw — the tool

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