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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 120 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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. staff — a stick
  4. band — a ring
  5. file — a line of people
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. band — a rubber band
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. file — a document
  13. staff — employees
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. band — a music group
  20. staff — employees
  21. file — a tool
  22. lie — to recline
  23. stand — to bear
  24. patient — a sick person

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