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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. firm — a company
  4. spring — a coil
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. land — a country
  10. firm — decided
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. perch — the fish
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. firm — steady
  16. spring — of water
  17. spring — the season
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. land — ground
  22. land — to come down
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. lash — to lash out

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