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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 kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. bulb — for light
  15. stand — to bear
  16. ball — a great time
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. chip — for betting
  20. bulb — for light
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. chip — to eat
  23. ball — a dance
  24. chip — in a computer

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