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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. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. track — a path
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. lean — to bend
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. lean — thin
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. track — a song
  10. mate — to breed
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. suit — clothes
  13. mate — a partner
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. track — to keep track
  17. mine — for digging
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. suit — in cards
  21. mate — a friend
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. suit — to fit

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