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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 116 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: cabinet · pass · lie · mate · deal · hide · fine · track

  1. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. fine — high quality
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. mate — a friend
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. pass — a permit
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. track — a path
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. mate — to breed
  14. lie — to recline
  15. deal — to handle
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. track — to keep track
  18. fine — all right
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. track — a song
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. pass — to spend time

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