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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: hide · bore · bay · temple · lean · mug · mate · track

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. mate — a partner
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. track — to keep track
  6. bore — to drill
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. mate — a friend
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. mate — to breed
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. lean — to bend
  14. track — a song
  15. bore — to tire
  16. mug — a cup
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. lean — thin
  19. track — a path
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. mug — a face

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