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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 · straw · squash · firm · foot · board · leaves · can

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. firm — a company
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. can — to be able to
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. can — a tin
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. straw — a straw man
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. squash — the sport
  11. board — a committee
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. can — a tin
  15. straw — to clutch at straws
  16. foot — a measure
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. squash — to crush
  19. board — to get on
  20. firm — decided
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. straw — dry grass
  24. firm — steady

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