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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: stick · row · prune · track · cabinet · foot · season · bay

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. season — of the year
  5. track — a path
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. track — to keep track
  8. season — in sport
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. prune — to trim
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. row — a line
  13. track — a song
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. foot — a measure
  17. prune — to trim
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. row — to paddle
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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