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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 116 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 ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. ball — a dance
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. rock — a stone
  5. march — the month
  6. field — farmland
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. key — in music
  10. bore — to tire
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. march — the month
  13. field — a subject
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. key — for a lock
  17. field — for sport
  18. rock — music
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. march — music
  22. key — the most important part
  23. ball — a great time
  24. bore — to drill

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