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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. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. spell — a short time
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. spell — letters
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. stem — to come from
  10. deal — to handle
  11. spell — magic
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. march — music
  15. mark — a grade
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. mark — a trace
  21. march — the month
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. stem — of a plant

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