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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. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. bound — obliged
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. root — the cause
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. root — of a word
  14. bound — tied together
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. row — to paddle
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. deal — to handle
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. bound — certain
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. root — of a plant

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