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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. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. roll — a cake
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. rock — a stone
  5. rash — hasty
  6. net — after costs
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. rash — a series
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. charge — in control
  11. charge — electricity
  12. rock — music
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. charge — a price
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. net — in sport
  18. roll — a list
  19. net — for catching
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. lie — to recline

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