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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. cue — a hint
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. ground — crushed
  6. lie — to recline
  7. pit — a hole
  8. cue — for pool
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. pit — in a race
  12. cue — a signal
  13. roll — a list
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. rush — hurry
  17. toast — bread
  18. ground — the earth
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. roll — a cake
  24. ground — a position

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