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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. kick — in football
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. march — music
  7. rock — a stone
  8. kick — with a leg
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. bear — the animal
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. mine — for digging
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. pop — to visit
  16. march — the month
  17. pop — soda
  18. march — the month
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. rock — music
  22. bear — the animal
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. safe — out of danger

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