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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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. foot — a measure
  4. suit — in cards
  5. mate — to breed
  6. bore — to tire
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. mate — a partner
  10. bore — to drill
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. scale — in music
  15. scale — size or range
  16. suit — clothes
  17. saw — the tool
  18. saw — the tool
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. mate — a friend
  24. suit — to fit

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