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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. bore — to drill
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. craft — boats
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. bore — to tire
  18. foot — a measure
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. craft — a skill
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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