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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 party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. key — in music
  4. net — for catching
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. key — the most important part
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. season — in sport
  11. net — after costs
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. kid — child
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. key — for a lock
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. rash — hasty
  18. kid — to tease
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. season — of the year
  21. net — in sport
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. leaves — of a tree

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