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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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. bank — of a river
  4. last — final
  5. bore — to drill
  6. bank — for money
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. bank — for money
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. march — the month
  17. last — to go on
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. last — finally
  20. march — music
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. bore — to tire

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