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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.

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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: pop · hide · season · file · craft · leaves · mug · pass

  1. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. file — a line of people
  4. season — of the year
  5. mug — a face
  6. craft — a skill
  7. mug — a cup
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. pop — soda
  10. pass — a permit
  11. mug — to rob
  12. craft — boats
  13. pop — to visit
  14. file — a document
  15. season — in sport
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. pop — music
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. file — a tool
  24. hide — animal skin

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