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

Word bank: row · roll · court · pit · wake · club · arm · bay

  1. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. The ball is in your ________________.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of a king
  2. roll — a list
  3. pit — a hole
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. row — a line
  6. club — a group
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. row — to paddle
  9. wake — a trail
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. court — for sport
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. court — of law
  15. pit — in a race
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. club — for golf
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. roll — a cake
  24. club — for dancing

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