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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. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. When are we going to ________________?
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. craft — a skill
  4. game — a match
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. spell — a short time
  7. spell — magic
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. fine — all right
  11. game — wild animals
  12. cue — a hint
  13. land — to come down
  14. fine — high quality
  15. craft — boats
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. cue — for pool
  18. land — a country
  19. land — ground
  20. cue — a signal
  21. spell — letters
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. trunk — of a car

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