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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. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. ball — a dance
  5. roll — a cake
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. foot — a measure
  10. bass — the fish
  11. pass — a permit
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. ball — a great time
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. bass — low music
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. roll — a list
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. toast — bread
  24. ball — a round shape

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