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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  13. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. content — the amount
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. rock — a stone
  7. net — after costs
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. net — for catching
  10. rock — music
  11. current — happening now
  12. chair — a professorship
  13. chair — to sit on
  14. current — of water
  15. current — electric
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. chair — a leader
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. net — in sport
  24. content — happy

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