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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. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. ball — a dance
  3. ball — a great time
  4. bound — certain
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. bound — tied together
  8. track — a song
  9. bound — obliged
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. mug — to rob
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. wax — to grow
  14. present — a gift
  15. mug — a cup
  16. present — there
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. mug — a face
  19. track — a path
  20. track — to keep track
  21. present — the time now
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. hide — animal skin

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