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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. track — to keep track
  3. root — of a plant
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. bat — the animal
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. bat — for baseball
  9. track — a song
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. root — of a word
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. bat — in an idiom
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. track — a path
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. stand — to bear
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. root — the cause

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