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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 sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. ball — a dance
  3. ground — crushed
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. cap — of ice
  8. mug — a cup
  9. saw — the tool
  10. cap — a hat
  11. ground — the earth
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. foot — a measure
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. mug — a face
  17. mug — to rob
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. saw — the tool
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. ground — a position
  22. ball — a great time
  23. cap — a lid
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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