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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  17. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. charge — in control
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. current — electric
  5. fall — to drop
  6. pitch — completely
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. current — of water
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. root — the cause
  12. shower — to wash
  13. charge — electricity
  14. shower — rain
  15. current — happening now
  16. shower — a meteor shower
  17. fall — to drop
  18. root — of a word
  19. charge — a price
  20. fall — the season
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. root — of a plant
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. bark — to shout

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