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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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. lean — thin
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. lean — to bend
  18. bulb — for light
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. snap — to click
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. fork — in a road

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