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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. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. pop — music
  9. content — the amount
  10. staff — employees
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. foot — a measure
  13. pop — to visit
  14. pass — a permit
  15. pop — soda
  16. charge — a price
  17. charge — electricity
  18. staff — a stick
  19. content — happy
  20. charge — in control
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. foot — part of the body

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