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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. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. saw — the tool
  4. stock — goods
  5. mug — a face
  6. face — to point toward
  7. face — part of the head
  8. stock — shares
  9. mug — a cup
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. field — a subject
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. saw — the tool
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. field — for sport
  20. mug — to rob
  21. face — to confront
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. kick — with a leg
  24. field — farmland

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