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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. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. bank — of a river
  6. bank — for money
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bank — for money
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. bulb — for light
  16. sharp — clever
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. branch — a division
  19. ball — a great time
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. ball — a dance

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