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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. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. cap — of ice
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. wax — to grow
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. game — wild animals
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. key — in music
  15. game — a match
  16. can — a tin
  17. key — the most important part
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. cap — a hat
  20. can — a tin
  21. cap — a lid
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. can — to be able to
  24. key — for a lock

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