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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. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. march — the month
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. march — music
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. straw — to clutch at straws
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. march — the month
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. deal — to handle
  15. present — the time now
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. present — there
  19. straw — a straw man
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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