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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 120 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 sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. The ball is in your ________________.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. firm — decided
  3. saw — the tool
  4. object — a thing
  5. cap — of ice
  6. object — to protest
  7. court — for sport
  8. firm — steady
  9. plane — a tool
  10. cap — a lid
  11. court — of law
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. suit — to fit
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. firm — a company
  16. saw — the tool
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. object — an aim
  20. suit — clothes
  21. court — of a king
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. suit — in cards
  24. cap — a hat

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