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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bound — tied together
  3. rash — hasty
  4. shower — rain
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. bound — obliged
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. prune — to trim
  9. bound — certain
  10. rash — a series
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. prune — to trim
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. rock — a stone
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. rock — music
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. perch — the fish
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. shower — to wash

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