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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. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. last — final
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. last — to go on
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. ground — crushed
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. ground — the earth
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. fork — in a road
  20. ground — a position
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. stand — to bear
  23. last — finally
  24. lash — to lash out

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