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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. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. current — electric
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. pop — to visit
  13. rash — a series
  14. current — happening now
  15. current — of water
  16. rash — hasty
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. pop — soda
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. pop — music
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. ruler — a monarch

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