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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. mark — a trace
  3. fall — to drop
  4. staff — employees
  5. cue — for pool
  6. staff — a stick
  7. staff — employees
  8. can — a tin
  9. cue — a hint
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. pop — soda
  13. cue — a signal
  14. pop — to visit
  15. fall — to drop
  16. mark — a grade
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. bear — the animal
  20. fall — the season
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. pop — music
  23. bear — the animal
  24. can — a tin

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