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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. can — a tin
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. can — to be able to
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. can — a tin
  13. wax — to grow
  14. sharp — clever
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. foot — a measure
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. coach — a trainer

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