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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  23. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  24. Tom got himself in 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. perch — the fish
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. cue — a signal
  5. rock — a stone
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. chip — for betting
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. rock — music
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. cue — a hint
  13. field — farmland
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. land — to come down
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. field — for sport
  18. chip — to eat
  19. cue — for pool
  20. land — a country
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. field — a subject
  23. land — ground
  24. jam — a tight spot

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