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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. land — a country
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. land — ground
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. stand — to bear
  11. track — a path
  12. track — to keep track
  13. rock — music
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. rock — a stone
  16. bore — to drill
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. land — to come down
  19. bore — to tire
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. track — a song
  23. bore — gave birth
  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