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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  15. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. perch — the fish
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. ball — a dance
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. chair — a professorship
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. chair — to sit on
  15. chair — a leader
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. rush — hurry
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. mark — a grade
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. mark — a trace
  23. ball — a great time
  24. nail — for a hammer

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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