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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. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. plane — a tool
  6. drill — army training
  7. season — in sport
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. key — the most important part
  10. bound — certain
  11. drill — a practice
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. season — of the year
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. bound — tied together
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. key — for a lock
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. key — in music
  21. bound — obliged
  22. wake — a trail
  23. pass — a permit
  24. drill — the tool

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