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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 116 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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  13. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. rest — what's left
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. rest — a break
  9. scale — size or range
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. track — a song
  12. bark — of a tree
  13. bark — to shout
  14. lie — to recline
  15. track — a path
  16. rest — what's left
  17. track — to keep track
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. mug — a face
  20. key — for a lock
  21. key — the most important part
  22. key — in music
  23. mug — to rob
  24. scale — in 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