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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. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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. leaves — to go away
  3. spring — a coil
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. cue — for pool
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. current — electric
  9. current — happening now
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. current — of water
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. hand — help
  15. spring — of water
  16. mark — a trace
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. cue — a signal
  19. hand — in cards
  20. cue — a hint
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. mark — a grade
  23. spring — the season
  24. mouse — the animal

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