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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 116 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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. saw — the tool
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. mate — a partner
  5. mate — to breed
  6. net — for catching
  7. bark — to shout
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bark — of a tree
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. tube — a container
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. tube — the underground
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. net — after costs
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. rush — hurry
  20. net — in sport
  21. bark — a dog's sound
  22. mate — a friend
  23. lie — to recline
  24. rush — to hurry

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