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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 · squash · wake · key · pitcher · bay · deal · land

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. squash — the sport
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. deal — to handle
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. key — the most important part
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. land — ground
  15. key — in music
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. land — to come down
  20. squash — to crush
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. land — a country
  23. key — for a lock
  24. wake — before a funeral

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