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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 116 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. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. sharp — clever
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. season — in sport
  8. drill — the tool
  9. season — of the year
  10. deal — to handle
  11. drill — a practice
  12. drill — army training
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. bass — the fish
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. cue — for pool
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. cue — a signal
  21. cue — a hint
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. bass — low music
  24. bowl — to roll

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