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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. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. sharp — clever
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. root — of a word
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. lie — to recline
  17. rock — a stone
  18. root — the cause
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. rock — music
  23. root — of a plant
  24. bowl — a dish

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