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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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  22. David sat on the ________________.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — a tin
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. face — to confront
  7. ball — a great time
  8. swing — music
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. face — to point toward
  12. ball — a dance
  13. rock — a stone
  14. face — part of the head
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. bore — to tire
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. bore — to drill
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. can — to be able to
  21. swing — in golf
  22. swing — to play on
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. bore — gave birth

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