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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 116 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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. rash — a series
  4. hand — in cards
  5. season — of the year
  6. rash — hasty
  7. bank — for money
  8. season — in sport
  9. bank — for money
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. root — of a word
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. mine — for digging
  17. bank — of a river
  18. mug — a cup
  19. hand — help
  20. mug — to rob
  21. root — the cause
  22. mug — a face
  23. root — of a plant
  24. bay — a horse colour

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