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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. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mine — for digging
  3. ball — a dance
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. ball — a great time
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. foot — a measure
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. mug — a cup
  20. squash — the sport
  21. dip — to sink
  22. mug — a face
  23. mug — to rob
  24. squash — to crush

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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