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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bound — tied together
  3. root — of a plant
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. pop — music
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. tube — the underground
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. root — the cause
  12. pop — soda
  13. sharp — clever
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. band — a music group
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. tube — a container
  19. root — of a word
  20. pop — to visit
  21. bound — obliged
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. bound — certain
  24. band — a ring

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