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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. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. suit — clothes
  3. foot — a measure
  4. suit — to fit
  5. ball — a great time
  6. hand — help
  7. bound — certain
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. hand — in cards
  10. rest — what's left
  11. bore — to tire
  12. bore — to drill
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. bound — obliged
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. bound — tied together
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. rest — a break
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. ball — a dance
  23. suit — in cards
  24. rest — what's left

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