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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. season — in sport
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. season — of the year
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. bore — to drill
  12. bore — to tire
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. wake — a trail
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. nail — on a finger

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