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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bark — to shout
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. band — a music group
  5. fall — to drop
  6. chip — for betting
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. fall — the season
  12. band — a ring
  13. mug — to rob
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. mug — a cup
  17. chip — to eat
  18. mug — a face
  19. band — a rubber band
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. fall — to drop

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