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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 116 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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. bound — obliged
  3. pass — a permit
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. bound — certain
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — to be able to
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. season — in sport
  13. bound — tied together
  14. net — for catching
  15. net — after costs
  16. ball — a great time
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. season — of the year
  20. net — in sport
  21. can — a tin
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. snap — to click

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