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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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. mark — a grade
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. ball — a dance
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. tear — from crying
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. bass — low music
  12. tear — from crying
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. bass — the fish
  22. mark — a trace
  23. ball — a great time
  24. tear — to rip

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