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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. wound — an injury
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. hand — in cards
  8. prune — to trim
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. cap — a hat
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. wound — an injury
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. hand — help
  17. cap — of ice
  18. cap — a lid
  19. wax — to grow
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. prune — to trim
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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