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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. present — a gift
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. present — there
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. mark — a trace
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. bark — to shout
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. bark — of a tree
  23. foot — a measure
  24. mark — a grade

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