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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  11. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. bear — the animal
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. tear — from crying
  11. tear — to rip
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. tear — from crying
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. lean — thin
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. lean — to bend
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. mark — a trace
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. bear — the animal

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