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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. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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. tube — the underground
  3. pop — soda
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. saw — the tool
  6. key — for a lock
  7. wake — a trail
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. tube — a container
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. saw — the tool
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. key — the most important part
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. pop — music
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. pass — a permit
  22. pop — to visit
  23. key — in music
  24. mouse — the animal

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