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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. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. net — for catching
  4. mug — to rob
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. stand — to bear
  7. mate — a friend
  8. perch — the fish
  9. drill — army training
  10. drill — the tool
  11. game — a match
  12. mug — a face
  13. mug — a cup
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. mate — a partner
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. net — in sport
  19. game — wild animals
  20. mate — to breed
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. net — after costs
  23. drill — a practice
  24. safe — out of danger

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