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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 120 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. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. prune — to trim
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. perch — the fish
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. net — in sport
  7. fine — high quality
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. prune — to trim
  11. bass — the fish
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. fine — all right
  16. bass — low music
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. net — for catching
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. net — after costs
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. fan — a supporter

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