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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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. track — a song
  4. row — a line
  5. row — to paddle
  6. track — a path
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. track — to keep track
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. object — a thing
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. pass — a permit
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. object — an aim
  24. object — to protest

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