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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 help me carry this box?
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  21. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. mark — a trace
  4. row — to paddle
  5. can — a tin
  6. mark — a grade
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. can — a tin
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. season — in sport
  12. rule — government
  13. chair — a professorship
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. season — of the year
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. row — a line
  20. rule — a law
  21. rule — to rule out
  22. branch — a division
  23. chair — a leader
  24. branch — of a bank

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