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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: mark · ground · mouse · hide · wave · bear · leaves · game

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. bear — the animal
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. ground — a position
  5. ground — the earth
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. ground — crushed
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. mark — a grade
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. mark — a trace
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. game — wild animals
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. game — a match
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. bear — the animal
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. wave — with your hand

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