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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 124 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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  10. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The ball is in your ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. He was locked up in a ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. cell — a phone
  10. cell — in biology
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. court — for sport
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. court — of a king
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. stand — to bear
  20. deal — to handle
  21. cell — in a prison
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. court — of law
  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