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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bat — the animal
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. club — a group
  6. mug — to rob
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. bark — to shout
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. can — a tin
  11. bark — a dog's sound
  12. bass — low music
  13. bat — in an idiom
  14. can — to be able to
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. bat — for baseball
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. can — a tin
  19. club — for dancing
  20. mug — a face
  21. club — for golf
  22. mug — a cup
  23. bass — the fish
  24. arm — part of the body

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