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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. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to speak sharply
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. scale — in music
  10. staff — employees
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. staff — employees
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. wax — to grow
  15. staff — a stick
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. stand — to bear
  20. snap — to click
  21. rush — hurry
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. deal — to handle
  24. scale — size or range

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