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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. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. net — for catching
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. net — in sport
  14. branch — a division
  15. deal — to handle
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. roll — a cake
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. net — after costs
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. safe — out of danger

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