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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: fine · foot · pop · drill · can · bay · lie · spell

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. pop — to visit
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. spell — magic
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. foot — a measure
  7. pop — music
  8. spell — a short time
  9. pop — soda
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. can — to be able to
  12. can — a tin
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. fine — all right
  16. lie — to recline
  17. drill — a practice
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. can — a tin
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. spell — letters
  22. drill — the tool
  23. fine — high quality
  24. drill — army training

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