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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. pass — a permit
  3. straw — a straw man
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. mate — a partner
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. mate — a friend
  10. bank — for money
  11. straw — dry grass
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. lean — thin
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. last — to go on
  16. lean — to bend
  17. mate — to breed
  18. straw — to clutch at straws
  19. last — final
  20. bank — of a river
  21. last — finally
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. bank — for money

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