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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 116 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 seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. bat — the animal
  4. fine — all right
  5. bat — in an idiom
  6. rash — a series
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. mug — a cup
  9. pitch — completely
  10. rush — hurry
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. rash — hasty
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. mug — to rob
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. bat — for baseball
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. fine — high quality
  22. mug — a face
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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