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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 120 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. The ball is in your ________________.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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. court — for sport
  3. pitch — completely
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. bulb — for light
  15. foot — a measure
  16. dip — to sink
  17. bulb — for light
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. court — of law
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. court — of a king

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