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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. rock — music
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. net — for catching
  10. net — in sport
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. wound — an injury
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. toast — bread
  15. wound — an injury
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. ground — a position
  19. net — after costs
  20. ground — the earth
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. rock — a stone
  24. ground — crushed

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