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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. bulb — for light
  4. saw — the tool
  5. saw — the tool
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. ball — a dance
  10. shower — to wash
  11. ball — a great time
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. shower — rain
  16. bear — the animal
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bulb — for light
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. safe — out of danger

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