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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. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — to hit hard
  2. mug — to rob
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. track — a path
  5. squash — to crush
  6. track — to keep track
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. track — a song
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. pound — for dogs
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. pound — a weight
  14. bear — the animal
  15. mug — a cup
  16. bear — the animal
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. squash — the sport
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. mug — a face
  23. lie — to recline
  24. safe — a strongbox

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