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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. firm — decided
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. firm — a company
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. bark — to shout
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. mark — a trace
  14. firm — steady
  15. prune — to trim
  16. prune — to trim
  17. kick — in football
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. bark — a dog's sound
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. kick — with a leg
  24. mouse — the animal

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