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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. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. spell — a short time
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. spell — magic
  8. track — to keep track
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. wax — to grow
  12. track — a song
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. cue — for pool
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. cue — a signal
  20. cue — a hint
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. spell — letters
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. wax — for sculpting

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