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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. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. wake — a trail
  5. ball — a great time
  6. can — a tin
  7. mug — a cup
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. can — to be able to
  11. mug — to rob
  12. can — a tin
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. row — to paddle
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. mug — a face
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. ball — a dance
  19. press — newspapers
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. sharp — clever
  22. press — to push
  23. row — a line
  24. press — a publisher

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