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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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. cue — for pool
  4. game — wild animals
  5. rest — what's left
  6. face — to point toward
  7. fall — to drop
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. rest — a break
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. cue — a hint
  14. face — to confront
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. game — a match
  17. cue — a signal
  18. fall — the season
  19. face — part of the head
  20. deal — to handle
  21. fall — to drop
  22. rest — what's left
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. lash — an eyelash

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