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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. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. pop — to visit
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. suit — in cards
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. stand — to bear
  7. pop — music
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. cue — a hint
  11. object — an aim
  12. mark — a grade
  13. suit — to fit
  14. mark — a trace
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. perch — the fish
  17. cue — a signal
  18. object — to protest
  19. cue — for pool
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. object — a thing
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. suit — clothes

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