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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. rock — music
  3. bulb — for light
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. track — to keep track
  8. bulb — for light
  9. can — to be able to
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. squash — the sport
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. rock — a stone
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. track — a path
  19. squash — to crush
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. can — a tin
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. track — a song

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