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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. lean — to bend
  3. mug — to rob
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. saw — the tool
  6. track — a path
  7. track — to keep track
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. pop — music
  11. pop — to visit
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. lean — thin
  14. track — a song
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. mug — a face
  18. pass — a permit
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. saw — the tool
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. pop — soda

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