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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. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. chip — for betting
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. rush — hurry
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. season — in sport
  11. present — the time now
  12. club — a group
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. present — a gift
  15. pass — a permit
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. chip — to eat
  20. season — of the year
  21. present — there
  22. club — for golf
  23. club — for dancing
  24. bay — a horse colour

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