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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.

Make a worksheet

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: pitcher · lie · root · track · cabinet · court · bay · last

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. False peace will not ________________.
  23. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. track — a path
  5. lie — to recline
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. root — the cause
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. track — a song
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. root — of a plant
  12. last — final
  13. root — of a word
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. track — to keep track
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. court — of a king
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. court — for sport
  20. court — of law
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. last — to go on
  23. last — finally
  24. lie — an untruth

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