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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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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: bay · pop · bear · can · board · bark · sharp · leaves

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. can — a tin
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. bear — the animal
  9. board — to get on
  10. pop — soda
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. bear — the animal
  13. can — a tin
  14. pop — music
  15. bark — to shout
  16. sharp — clever
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. can — to be able to
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. board — a committee
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. pop — to visit
  24. bay — a horse colour

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