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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. deal — to handle
  3. drill — the tool
  4. season — of the year
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. key — the most important part
  7. key — for a lock
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. band — a ring
  10. drill — a practice
  11. firm — a company
  12. firm — steady
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. band — a music group
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. band — a rubber band
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. drill — army training
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. season — in sport
  23. key — in music
  24. firm — decided

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