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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. firm — steady
  4. scale — size or range
  5. scale — in music
  6. bat — the animal
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. cue — for pool
  9. shower — rain
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. firm — decided
  12. firm — a company
  13. bat — for baseball
  14. cue — a signal
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bound — obliged
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. bound — tied together
  20. bat — in an idiom
  21. cue — a hint
  22. shower — a meteor shower
  23. shower — to wash
  24. fan — a supporter

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