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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. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. rash — hasty
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. rash — a series
  9. rush — hurry
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. mate — a partner
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. mate — to breed
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. ball — a great time
  18. rock — a stone
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. rock — music
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. mate — a friend

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