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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. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. track — a song
  3. rest — a break
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. rest — what's left
  16. lean — thin
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. rest — what's left
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. track — a path
  21. track — to keep track
  22. pass — a permit
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. bowl — a football final

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