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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. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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. rest — what's left
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. toast — bread
  6. rest — a break
  7. cue — a hint
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. cap — a lid
  10. rest — what's left
  11. track — a path
  12. cap — a hat
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. cap — of ice
  16. track — to keep track
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. track — a song
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. cue — a signal
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. cue — for pool

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