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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. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. cue — a signal
  4. bound — obliged
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. face — part of the head
  8. cue — a hint
  9. bore — to tire
  10. bound — certain
  11. bore — to drill
  12. bound — tied together
  13. lean — thin
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. cue — for pool
  17. lean — to bend
  18. face — to point toward
  19. squash — to crush
  20. ball — a dance
  21. squash — the sport
  22. face — to confront
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. ball — a round shape

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