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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. roll — a list
  4. wake — a trail
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. rest — a break
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. bear — the animal
  10. rest — what's left
  11. rock — a stone
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. rest — what's left
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. bear — the animal
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. rock — music
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. spring — a coil
  21. spring — of water
  22. roll — a cake
  23. spring — the season
  24. roll — on a roll

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