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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. fork — a garden tool
  3. can — to be able to
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. can — a tin
  11. mark — a trace
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. can — a tin
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. mark — a grade
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. vault — a safe
  20. mine — for digging
  21. fork — in a road
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. mouse — the animal

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