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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. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. squash — the sport
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. fine — high quality
  13. ball — a great time
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. wake — a trail
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. squash — to crush
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. fine — all right
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. lie — to recline

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