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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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. suit — clothes
  3. wake — a trail
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. bat — the animal
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. foot — a measure
  8. bat — for baseball
  9. bulb — for light
  10. suit — in cards
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. bulb — for light
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. suit — to fit
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. bat — in an idiom
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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