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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. shower — rain
  5. mug — to rob
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. wound — an injury
  9. toast — bread
  10. mug — a cup
  11. roll — a cake
  12. shower — to wash
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. roll — a list
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. can — to be able to
  19. can — a tin
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. mug — a face
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. can — a tin
  24. wound — an injury

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