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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 116 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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. squash — to crush
  4. mug — a face
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. wax — to grow
  7. current — electric
  8. pitch — completely
  9. mug — to rob
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. mug — a cup
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. current — happening now
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. current — of water
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. squash — the sport
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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