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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. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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. stick — a piece of wood
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. present — the time now
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. rush — hurry
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. row — to paddle
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. row — a line
  14. present — there
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. lean — to bend
  17. stick — to attach or keep to
  18. present — a gift
  19. lean — thin
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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