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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. cap — of ice
  4. ground — crushed
  5. fall — to drop
  6. ground — the earth
  7. ground — a position
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. fine — high quality
  10. fall — to drop
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. rash — a series
  15. fall — the season
  16. stand — to bear
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. rash — hasty
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. cap — a lid
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. cap — a hat
  24. fine — all right

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