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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. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. He was locked up in a ________________.
  15. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  19. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. rock — a stone
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. can — a tin
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. lean — thin
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. lean — to bend
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. can — to be able to
  14. cell — in a prison
  15. tear — from crying
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. can — a tin
  18. tear — to rip
  19. cell — a phone
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. tear — from crying
  22. rock — music
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. deal — to handle

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