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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. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. rush — hurry
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. bear — the animal
  8. spring — of water
  9. bound — obliged
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. spring — a coil
  12. bound — tied together
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. spring — the season
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. mark — a grade
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bear — the animal
  21. bound — certain
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. mark — a trace
  24. straw — to clutch at straws

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