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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 sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. root — the cause
  3. mark — a trace
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. march — the month
  7. mug — a cup
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. mug — to rob
  11. mug — a face
  12. mark — a grade
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. march — music
  18. rush — hurry
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. march — the month
  21. root — of a plant
  22. root — of a word
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. fan — a supporter

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