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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. lean — thin
  3. board — a committee
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. drill — army training
  6. board — to get on
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. press — newspapers
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. rock — a stone
  13. press — to push
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. drill — the tool
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. drill — a practice
  18. lean — to bend
  19. rock — music
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. press — a publisher
  24. board — a flat piece

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