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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  13. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. net — for catching
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. rash — hasty
  9. bulb — for light
  10. sharp — clever
  11. net — after costs
  12. court — of a king
  13. court — of law
  14. stand — to bear
  15. bulb — for light
  16. row — a line
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. court — for sport
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. row — to paddle
  23. net — in sport
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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