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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: pass · suit · mouse · hide · hand · land · degree · safe

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. pass — a permit
  3. land — a country
  4. suit — to fit
  5. suit — in cards
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. hand — in cards
  8. hand — help
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. degree — from a university
  12. land — to come down
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. suit — clothes
  15. degree — temperature
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. degree — an amount
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. land — ground
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. pass — to spend time

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