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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. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to speak sharply
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. drill — army training
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. toast — bread
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. key — the most important part
  10. drill — the tool
  11. key — in music
  12. cue — a signal
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. cue — for pool
  15. snap — to click
  16. drill — a practice
  17. perch — the fish
  18. bank — for money
  19. cue — a hint
  20. key — for a lock
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. bank — for money
  24. bank — of a river

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