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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 120 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 president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. mug — a face
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. mug — a cup
  5. land — a country
  6. suit — in cards
  7. squash — the sport
  8. mug — to rob
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. bound — certain
  11. suit — to fit
  12. mate — a partner
  13. bark — to shout
  14. bound — obliged
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. mate — a friend
  17. suit — clothes
  18. bound — tied together
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. land — to come down
  21. mate — to breed
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. land — ground
  24. bark — of a tree

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