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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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468
Word bank
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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. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. fine — high quality
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. rash — a series
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. content — the amount
  8. content — happy
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. ball — a great time
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. fine — all right
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. rash — hasty
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. ball — a dance
  21. dip — to sink
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. safe — out of danger

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