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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. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. suit — in cards
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. bank — for money
  6. march — music
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. suit — to fit
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. suit — clothes
  12. land — to come down
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. board — a committee
  15. march — the month
  16. board — to get on
  17. bank — of a river
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. land — ground
  21. land — a country
  22. bank — for money
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. march — the month

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