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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. stand — to bear
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. cue — for pool
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. foot — a measure
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. cue — a hint
  18. wake — a trail
  19. sharp — clever
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. cue — a signal
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. trunk — of a tree

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