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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: saw · key · stand · can · ball · rule · squash · bay

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. can — a tin
  4. saw — the tool
  5. ball — a dance
  6. squash — to crush
  7. key — in music
  8. ball — a great time
  9. key — for a lock
  10. key — the most important part
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. can — a tin
  13. rule — to rule out
  14. stand — to bear
  15. squash — the sport
  16. can — to be able to
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. rule — a law
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. rule — government

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