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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 · fall · land · season · fine · staff · pop · bear

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. pop — soda
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. season — in sport
  6. season — of the year
  7. fall — the season
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. land — a country
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. land — to come down
  12. bear — the animal
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. land — ground
  15. fine — all right
  16. staff — employees
  17. fine — high quality
  18. staff — a stick
  19. bear — the animal
  20. staff — employees
  21. pop — to visit
  22. fall — to drop
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. fall — to drop

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