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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 116 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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. rule — to rule out
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. scale — size or range
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. rule — government
  16. scale — in music
  17. stand — to bear
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. lie — to recline
  20. rush — hurry
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. rule — a law

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