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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. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. bound — certain
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. cue — for pool
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. march — music
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. saw — the tool
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. march — the month
  15. lie — to recline
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. bound — tied together
  18. bound — obliged
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. cue — a signal
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. cue — a hint
  23. saw — the tool
  24. fan — to cool the air

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