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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. sharp — clever
  4. game — a match
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. game — wild animals
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. toast — bread
  15. wake — a trail
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. coach — pulled by horses

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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