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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. Check the label for the sugar ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. wake — a trail
  5. band — a rubber band
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. net — after costs
  8. band — a ring
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. band — a music group
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. net — for catching
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. bound — certain
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. net — in sport
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. bound — obliged
  20. bound — tied together
  21. content — happy
  22. stand — to bear
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. content — the amount

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