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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. root — of a word
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. present — there
  7. bore — to drill
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. root — the cause
  13. straw — a straw man
  14. present — a gift
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. root — of a plant
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. vault — a safe
  21. present — the time now
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. bore — to tire
  24. straw — to clutch at straws

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