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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.

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: mug · march · saw · chair · season · kick · nail · bay

  1. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. season — in sport
  3. chair — to sit on
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. mug — a cup
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. kick — with a leg
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. chair — a leader
  10. march — the month
  11. kick — in football
  12. mug — to rob
  13. saw — the tool
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. chair — a professorship
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. season — of the year
  22. saw — the tool
  23. mug — a face
  24. march — the month

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