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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. deal — to handle
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. mug — to rob
  11. bound — tied together
  12. track — a song
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. track — a path
  15. mug — a cup
  16. row — to paddle
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. season — of the year
  19. track — to keep track
  20. season — in sport
  21. bound — certain
  22. row — a line
  23. bound — obliged
  24. row — a quarrel

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