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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. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. stem — to come from
  4. current — happening now
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. cap — of ice
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. mark — a trace
  12. shower — rain
  13. current — of water
  14. shower — to wash
  15. mark — a grade
  16. wake — a trail
  17. mug — to rob
  18. current — electric
  19. cap — a lid
  20. cap — a hat
  21. mug — a cup
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. mug — a face

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