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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bank — for money
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. mark — a grade
  5. bank — for money
  6. bound — obliged
  7. bank — of a river
  8. cue — for pool
  9. ground — a position
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. ground — the earth
  12. shower — rain
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. ground — crushed
  15. cue — a hint
  16. bound — tied together
  17. mark — a trace
  18. foot — a measure
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. bound — certain
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. cue — a signal
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. shower — to wash

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