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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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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. stick — a piece of wood
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. rash — hasty
  5. fine — high quality
  6. spring — the season
  7. rash — a series
  8. spring — of water
  9. ball — a dance
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. spring — a coil
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. firm — steady
  16. fine — all right
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. hand — in cards
  19. firm — decided
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. hand — help
  22. ball — a great time
  23. firm — a company
  24. bay — a horse colour

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