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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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bore — to tire
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. current — electric
  5. spell — letters
  6. spell — magic
  7. bank — of a river
  8. current — of water
  9. spell — a short time
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. bank — for money
  13. lie — to recline
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. current — happening now
  16. bank — for money
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. bore — to drill

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