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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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. row — to paddle
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. sharp — clever
  6. stand — to bear
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. track — a song
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. track — a path
  14. ball — a great time
  15. mate — a partner
  16. mate — to breed
  17. track — to keep track
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. ball — a dance
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. date — the fruit
  22. mate — a friend
  23. row — a line
  24. date — on the calendar

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