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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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  4. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. chair — a leader
  4. club — a group
  5. net — after costs
  6. club — for dancing
  7. net — in sport
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. club — for golf
  11. net — for catching
  12. season — in sport
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. season — of the year
  18. chair — a professorship
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. rock — a stone
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. chair — to sit on
  24. nail — on a finger

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