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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. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  4. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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. patient — calm and waiting
  3. chest — a box
  4. chest — of your body
  5. toast — bread
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. track — a path
  8. chest — of your body
  9. drill — a practice
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. drill — the tool
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. track — to keep track
  15. stand — to bear
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. drill — army training
  19. bass — the fish
  20. track — a song
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. bass — low music

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