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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 116 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 took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. mug — a cup
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. mug — a face
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. mug — to rob
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. wake — a trail
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. stand — to bear
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. snap — to click

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