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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. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. mate — a friend
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. key — the most important part
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. firm — steady
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. lie — to recline
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. firm — a company
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. firm — decided
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. mate — a partner
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. bore — to drill
  20. bore — to tire
  21. key — for a lock
  22. mate — to breed
  23. tube — a container
  24. key — in 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