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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. fine — high quality
  3. charge — a price
  4. bound — certain
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. charge — electricity
  7. track — a path
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. can — a tin
  10. spell — letters
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. spell — magic
  13. bound — obliged
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. track — to keep track
  17. bound — tied together
  18. can — to be able to
  19. spell — a short time
  20. fine — all right
  21. can — a tin
  22. track — a song
  23. charge — in control
  24. dip — to sink

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