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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. saw — the tool
  4. key — for a lock
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. key — the most important part
  7. ground — crushed
  8. rash — hasty
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. suit — in cards
  11. suit — to fit
  12. rash — a series
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. ground — a position
  15. suit — clothes
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. vault — a safe
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. ground — the earth
  21. saw — the tool
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. key — in music
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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