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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. pass — a permit
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. craft — boats
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. ground — the earth
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. saw — the tool
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. foot — a measure
  18. saw — the tool
  19. ground — crushed
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. rush — hurry
  22. ground — a position
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. craft — a skill

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