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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. bore — to drill
  3. can — a tin
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. straw — to clutch at straws
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. bore — to tire
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. ball — a great time
  10. ball — a dance
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. straw — dry grass
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. can — to be able to
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. stock — shares
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. can — a tin
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. perch — the fish
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. stock — goods
  24. ball — a round shape

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