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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 120 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 sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  18. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. board — to get on
  4. mark — a trace
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. cap — of ice
  10. mark — a grade
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. rule — to rule out
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. rule — government
  18. rule — a law
  19. board — a committee
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. cap — a lid
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. mine — for digging
  24. cap — a hat

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