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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. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. staff — a stick
  5. firm — a company
  6. rock — music
  7. sharp — clever
  8. mate — a friend
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. rock — a stone
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. staff — employees
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. firm — steady
  18. mate — to breed
  19. rush — hurry
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. staff — employees
  24. firm — decided

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