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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 116 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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. ground — crushed
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. ball — a dance
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. chair — a professorship
  12. pass — a permit
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. squash — the sport
  15. ground — a position
  16. chair — to sit on
  17. ball — a great time
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. chair — a leader
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. ground — the earth
  23. squash — to crush
  24. coach — a trainer

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