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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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. bore — to tire
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. cue — for pool
  9. cue — a hint
  10. cue — a signal
  11. sharp — clever
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. degree — temperature
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. degree — from a university
  20. wax — to grow
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. degree — an amount
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. bore — to drill

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