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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 ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. cue — a hint
  3. lie — to recline
  4. cue — a signal
  5. ground — crushed
  6. rest — what's left
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. rest — a break
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. ground — a position
  12. cue — for pool
  13. ball — a dance
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. wake — a trail
  16. rest — what's left
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. wax — to grow
  22. ball — a great time
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. safe — out of danger

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