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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. mark — a trace
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. bulb — for light
  9. spring — of water
  10. bulb — for light
  11. ball — a dance
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. spring — a coil
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. ball — a great time
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. chair — a professorship
  18. mark — a grade
  19. chair — to sit on
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. spring — the season
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. chair — a leader

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