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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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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 · bay · foot · root · vault · fall · mate · suit

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. fall — to drop
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. fall — the season
  8. foot — a measure
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. vault — a safe
  11. suit — to fit
  12. root — of a plant
  13. root — the cause
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. suit — clothes
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. mate — a partner
  18. mate — to breed
  19. suit — in cards
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. fall — to drop
  23. root — of a word
  24. mate — a friend

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