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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 is an ace ________________.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. row — a line
  4. cue — a hint
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. cue — for pool
  7. mark — a trace
  8. row — to paddle
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. pit — in a race
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pit — a hole
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. rock — music
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. mark — a grade
  21. lie — to recline
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. rock — a stone
  24. cue — a signal

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