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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. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — the amount
  2. can — a tin
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. bear — the animal
  6. rock — a stone
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. prune — to trim
  10. ball — a great time
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. can — to be able to
  14. rock — music
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. bear — the animal
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. prune — to trim
  19. ball — a dance
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. content — happy
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. can — a tin

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