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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. track — to keep track
  3. scale — size or range
  4. bound — tied together
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. date — the fruit
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. scale — in music
  10. bound — obliged
  11. track — a path
  12. track — a song
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. bound — certain
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. bark — to shout
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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