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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 120 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 works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. firm — a company
  3. mate — a partner
  4. bat — for baseball
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. bat — in an idiom
  7. prune — to trim
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. prune — to trim
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. mate — to breed
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. rush — hurry
  15. mate — a friend
  16. firm — decided
  17. suit — to fit
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. suit — clothes
  20. suit — in cards
  21. bat — the animal
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. firm — steady
  24. calf — of the leg

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