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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 124 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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  17. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. kick — with a leg
  6. can — to be able to
  7. ball — a great time
  8. face — to confront
  9. can — a tin
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. face — part of the head
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. face — to point toward
  14. toast — bread
  15. saw — the tool
  16. kick — a thrill
  17. kick — in football
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. saw — the tool
  22. ball — a dance
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. can — a tin

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