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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 116 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. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. rock — a stone
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. bear — the animal
  11. pit — in a race
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. rock — music
  16. pit — a hole
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. sharp — clever

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