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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. board — a committee
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. can — a tin
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. pop — soda
  10. track — a path
  11. face — to point toward
  12. can — to be able to
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. track — a song
  15. board — to get on
  16. pop — to visit
  17. face — part of the head
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. face — to confront
  20. pop — music
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. can — a tin
  24. track — to keep track

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