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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. suit — clothes
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. can — to be able to
  6. pit — in a race
  7. suit — in cards
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. can — a tin
  11. bore — to tire
  12. march — the month
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. bore — to drill
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. pit — a hole
  17. can — a tin
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. march — the month
  21. suit — to fit
  22. march — music
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. safe — out of danger

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