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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. pass — a permit
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. foot — a measure
  7. bound — certain
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. bound — obliged
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. rash — a series
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. rash — hasty
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. bound — tied together
  24. wave — of the sea

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