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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 116 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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. court — for sport
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. present — a gift
  6. present — the time now
  7. court — of a king
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. track — to keep track
  11. court — of law
  12. mate — a partner
  13. craft — boats
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. craft — a skill
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. present — there
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. track — a path
  21. wake — a trail
  22. mate — to breed
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. track — a song

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