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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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. current — electric
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. drill — the tool
  5. drill — a practice
  6. drill — army training
  7. lean — thin
  8. plane — a tool
  9. current — of water
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. lean — to bend
  12. bear — the animal
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. mug — a cup
  16. mug — to rob
  17. current — happening now
  18. season — in sport
  19. season — of the year
  20. bear — the animal
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. mug — a face

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