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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 newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. mate — a friend
  3. wind — to turn a key
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. lie — to recline
  6. club — a group
  7. bass — the fish
  8. mug — to rob
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. wind — moving air
  11. foot — a measure
  12. bass — low music
  13. wind — moving air
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. mate — to breed
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. mug — a face
  21. club — for golf
  22. mug — a cup
  23. club — for dancing
  24. mate — a partner

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