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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. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. mate — a partner
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. mate — a friend
  8. foot — a measure
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. season — of the year
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. toast — bread
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. season — in sport
  17. dip — to sink
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. mine — for digging
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. mate — to breed
  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