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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. chair — to sit on
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. mate — a partner
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. bass — low music
  10. dip — to sink
  11. ball — a great time
  12. mate — to breed
  13. mate — a friend
  14. chair — a leader
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. bass — the fish
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. ball — a dance
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. nail — for a hammer

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