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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  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. branch — a division
  2. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. bear — the animal
  5. mug — to rob
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. bear — the animal
  8. ball — a great time
  9. mug — a cup
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. ball — a dance
  12. mug — a face
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. kid — to tease
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. kid — child
  24. hide — to keep secret

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