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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: rush · track · bay · hide · mate · leaves · stick · staff

  1. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. staff — employees
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. mate — a partner
  9. rush — hurry
  10. track — to keep track
  11. staff — a stick
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. staff — employees
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. track — a song
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. track — a path
  24. mate — to breed

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