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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. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. rock — a stone
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. rock — music
  7. rush — hurry
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. foot — a measure
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. spring — of water
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. spring — the season
  24. cabinet — ministers

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