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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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. spring — of water
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. cue — a hint
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. mug — a face
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. mug — to rob
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. cue — for pool
  13. cue — a signal
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. squash — to crush
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. ball — a great time
  18. ball — a dance
  19. spring — the season
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. mug — a cup
  22. spring — a coil
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. squash — the sport

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