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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 ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. rest — what's left
  4. straw — dry grass
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. row — a line
  7. fine — high quality
  8. cue — a signal
  9. cue — a hint
  10. rock — music
  11. rock — a stone
  12. track — a path
  13. row — to paddle
  14. cue — for pool
  15. fine — all right
  16. track — a song
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. straw — a straw man
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. straw — to clutch at straws
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. rest — a break
  24. track — to keep track

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