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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. drill — army training
  3. drill — a practice
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. mark — a grade
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. prune — to trim
  12. current — happening now
  13. mark — a trace
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. drill — the tool
  17. current — electric
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. toast — bread
  21. branch — a division
  22. prune — to trim
  23. lie — to recline
  24. toast — the most admired

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