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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. saw — the tool
  3. tear — from crying
  4. rest — a break
  5. mug — to rob
  6. game — a match
  7. tear — to rip
  8. mug — a face
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. rest — what's left
  11. current — of water
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. current — happening now
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. rest — what's left
  16. game — wild animals
  17. current — electric
  18. saw — the tool
  19. pit — in a race
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. pit — a hole
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. tear — from crying
  24. mug — a cup

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