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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 120 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. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. deal — to handle
  4. rush — hurry
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. track — a path
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. rock — a stone
  13. chip — to eat
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. cap — of ice
  16. chip — for betting
  17. track — to keep track
  18. cap — a hat
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. track — a song
  22. cap — a lid
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. rock — music

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