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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 116 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. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. staff — a stick
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. track — a song
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. track — a path
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. saw — the tool
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. track — to keep track
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. saw — the tool
  15. bass — the fish
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. staff — employees
  18. staff — employees
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. bass — low music
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. bay — a horse colour

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