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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. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. rule — to rule out
  3. rock — music
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. rock — a stone
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. spring — of water
  9. suit — in cards
  10. rule — government
  11. rush — hurry
  12. suit — to fit
  13. march — the month
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. spring — a coil
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. rule — a law
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. march — the month
  22. suit — clothes
  23. march — music
  24. spring — the season

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