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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. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  13. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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. perch — the fish
  4. rock — a stone
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. rock — music
  7. fall — to drop
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. last — final
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. sharp — clever
  12. fall — the season
  13. last — finally
  14. last — to go on
  15. bulb — for light
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. fall — to drop
  24. perch — for a bird

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