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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.

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: hide · jam · pop · toast · lie · trunk · bore · bay

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  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. hide — animal skin
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bore — to drill
  5. pop — to visit
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. bore — to tire
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. lie — to recline
  19. pop — soda
  20. toast — bread
  21. pop — music
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  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