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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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. chest — of your body
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. suit — in cards
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. ball — a dance
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. suit — to fit
  12. rush — hurry
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. rock — a stone
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. chest — of your body
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. pound — a weight
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. rock — music
  22. pound — to hit hard
  23. ball — a great time
  24. chest — a box

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