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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 120 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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. cap — of ice
  5. game — wild animals
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. perch — the fish
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. bore — to drill
  10. game — a match
  11. cap — a hat
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. cap — a lid
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. bore — to tire
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. bay — a horse colour

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