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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: fan · season · stick · present · track · mug · bay · pound

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  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. bay — to keep at bay
  2. pound — for dogs
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. mug — to rob
  5. season — of the year
  6. present — the time now
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. pound — a weight
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. mug — a face
  13. track — a song
  14. track — to keep track
  15. present — there
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. present — a gift
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. track — a path
  21. mug — a cup
  22. season — in sport
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  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