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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: mine · row · rash · suit · nail · mouse · hide · fine

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. mine — for digging
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. fine — all right
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. row — to paddle
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. suit — in cards
  9. rash — a series
  10. rash — hasty
  11. suit — clothes
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. suit — to fit
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. row — a line
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. fine — high quality

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