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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. wake — a trail
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. shower — to wash
  5. ball — a dance
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. current — electric
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. current — happening now
  12. ball — a great time
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. rock — a stone
  17. current — of water
  18. rock — music
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. shower — rain
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. dip — to sink
  24. shower — a meteor shower

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