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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. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. key — in music
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. lie — to recline
  5. pop — to visit
  6. bank — for money
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. kick — in football
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. prune — to trim
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. pop — soda
  15. key — the most important part
  16. bank — of a river
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. prune — to trim
  19. key — for a lock
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. bank — for money
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. pop — music

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