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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. swing — music
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. fine — all right
  6. fine — high quality
  7. bore — to drill
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. bass — the fish
  15. bore — to tire
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. swing — in golf
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. swing — to play on
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. bass — low music
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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