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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. He was locked up in a ________________.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. cell — in a prison
  5. wake — a trail
  6. can — a tin
  7. pit — a hole
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. can — a tin
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. rock — music
  13. can — to be able to
  14. pit — in a race
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. roll — a list
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. roll — a cake
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. cell — in biology
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. cell — a phone
  24. bay — a horse colour

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