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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 120 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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. He was locked up in a ________________.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. ball — a dance
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. cell — a phone
  6. suit — clothes
  7. mug — a face
  8. cell — in a prison
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. mark — a grade
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. scale — size or range
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. mug — to rob
  18. sharp — clever
  19. suit — in cards
  20. mark — a trace
  21. scale — in music
  22. mug — a cup
  23. ball — a great time
  24. cell — in biology

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