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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 124 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. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. rest — what's left
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. can — a tin
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. bank — for money
  9. spring — a coil
  10. spring — the season
  11. bank — for money
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. can — to be able to
  15. rest — what's left
  16. spring — of water
  17. can — a tin
  18. rush — hurry
  19. bank — of a river
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. rest — a break
  22. plane — a tool
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. bay — a part of the sea

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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