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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 ________________ went through the wall.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. stand — to bear
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. spring — of water
  8. wake — a trail
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. rest — what's left
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. spring — the season
  17. spring — a coil
  18. foot — a measure
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. rest — what's left
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. rest — a break

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