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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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. ball — a great time
  3. key — for a lock
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. mug — a face
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. mug — a cup
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. mug — to rob
  10. mate — a friend
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. rule — government
  13. ball — a dance
  14. rule — a law
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. mate — a partner
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. rule — to rule out
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. key — in music
  21. key — the most important part
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. mate — to breed

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