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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 120 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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. perch — the fish
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. rock — music
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. firm — steady
  11. rock — a stone
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. net — in sport
  15. net — after costs
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. game — wild animals
  18. net — for catching
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. firm — decided
  23. firm — a company
  24. game — a match

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