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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 ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. object — to protest
  6. track — a path
  7. track — to keep track
  8. ground — a position
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. ground — crushed
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. charge — in control
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. plane — a tool
  18. charge — a price
  19. charge — electricity
  20. track — a song
  21. object — an aim
  22. object — a thing
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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