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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. scale — size or range
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. clip — for paper
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. prune — to trim
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. clip — a video
  10. current — happening now
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. current — of water
  13. fine — all right
  14. fine — high quality
  15. current — electric
  16. clip — to cut
  17. perch — the fish
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. stand — to bear
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. scale — in music
  22. prune — to trim
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. perch — for a bird

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