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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. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. lean — to bend
  6. foot — a measure
  7. prune — to trim
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. lie — to recline
  11. squash — the sport
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. lean — thin
  14. squash — to crush
  15. rash — hasty
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. prune — to trim
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. rash — a series
  24. lie — an untruth

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