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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. drill — army training
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. cap — a hat
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. press — newspapers
  9. dip — to sink
  10. cap — of ice
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. perch — the fish
  15. fine — high quality
  16. fine — all right
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. drill — a practice
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. cap — a lid
  21. press — a publisher
  22. press — to push
  23. drill — the tool
  24. leaves — to go away

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