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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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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: cap · leaves · bay · fan · bore · firm · present · mate

  1. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. cap — of ice
  3. firm — steady
  4. mate — a friend
  5. firm — a company
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. present — a gift
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. cap — a lid
  11. mate — to breed
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. mate — a partner
  14. cap — a hat
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. bore — to drill
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. bore — to tire
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. firm — decided
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. present — the time now

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