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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. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  14. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. pop — music
  4. wind — moving air
  5. bound — obliged
  6. bound — tied together
  7. cue — a signal
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. bulb — for light
  12. cue — a hint
  13. wind — moving air
  14. wind — to turn a key
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. pop — soda
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. perch — the fish
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bound — certain
  24. cue — for pool

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