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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
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: leaves · bear · land · rush · scale · track · bore · hide

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. land — to come down
  3. bore — to drill
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. land — ground
  7. bear — the animal
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. bore — to tire
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. bear — the animal
  16. track — a path
  17. track — to keep track
  18. rush — hurry
  19. land — a country
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. scale — size or range
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. track — a song
  24. rush — a thrill

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