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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. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. spell — magic
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. spell — a short time
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. board — to get on
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. pop — music
  13. spell — letters
  14. tube — a container
  15. mug — to rob
  16. board — a committee
  17. pop — to visit
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. tube — the underground
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. mug — a face
  24. mug — a cup

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