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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. rock — a stone
  3. bore — to drill
  4. degree — temperature
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. bore — to tire
  7. rest — a break
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. hand — help
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. rest — what's left
  15. degree — an amount
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. hand — in cards
  20. rest — what's left
  21. degree — from a university
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. rock — music
  24. hand — part of the body

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