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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. can — a tin
  3. pop — music
  4. object — to protest
  5. saw — the tool
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. object — a thing
  8. pop — to visit
  9. can — to be able to
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. bat — in an idiom
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. bat — for baseball
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. saw — the tool
  16. rock — music
  17. bat — the animal
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. pop — soda
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. can — a tin
  23. rock — a stone
  24. object — an aim

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