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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 · sharp · suit · snap · calf · rest · hide · press

  1. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. press — newspapers
  5. suit — to fit
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. rest — what's left
  8. snap — to click
  9. suit — clothes
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. suit — in cards
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. rest — a break
  15. rush — hurry
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. press — to push
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. rest — what's left
  21. sharp — clever
  22. press — a publisher
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. sharp — with an edge

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