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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. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — to tease
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. mate — a friend
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. bear — the animal
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. cue — for pool
  9. mate — to breed
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. kid — child
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. cue — a hint
  14. mate — a partner
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  18. foot — a measure
  19. saw — the tool
  20. cue — a signal
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. saw — the tool
  23. bear — the animal
  24. ruler — for measuring

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