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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 124 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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. rush — hurry
  5. lean — to bend
  6. toast — bread
  7. prune — to trim
  8. cue — a hint
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. lean — thin
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. cue — for pool
  15. content — the amount
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. content — happy
  20. prune — to trim
  21. cue — a signal
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. sharp — clever

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