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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. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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. bear — to put up with
  3. track — a path
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. bore — to drill
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. plane — a tool
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. track — to keep track
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. bear — the animal
  16. bear — the animal
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. track — a song
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. bore — to tire
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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