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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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. firm — a company
  5. ball — a dance
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. firm — steady
  13. rash — hasty
  14. ball — a great time
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. snap — to click
  18. rash — a series
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. pass — a permit
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. firm — decided
  23. squash — to crush
  24. squash — the sport

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