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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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. mug — a cup
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pit — in a race
  7. pit — a hole
  8. ball — a great time
  9. cap — a hat
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. mug — a face
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. ball — a dance
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. cap — of ice
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. bear — the animal
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. cap — a lid
  22. mug — to rob
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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