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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. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. wax — to grow
  4. pit — in a race
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. pit — a hole
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. stand — to bear
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. suit — clothes
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. suit — to fit
  22. suit — in cards
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. bay — a part 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