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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. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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. drill — the tool
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. drill — army training
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. sharp — clever
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. bass — the fish
  20. bass — low music
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. drill — a practice
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. ruler — for measuring

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