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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. face — to confront
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. charge — a price
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. face — to point toward
  11. net — after costs
  12. charge — electricity
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. charge — in control
  15. net — in sport
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. dip — to sink
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. net — for catching
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. face — part of the head
  24. calf — of the leg

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