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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. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. shower — to wash
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. tube — the underground
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. squash — to crush
  8. suit — clothes
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. squash — the sport
  14. suit — to fit
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. ball — a great time
  17. shower — rain
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. suit — in cards
  21. firm — decided
  22. firm — a company
  23. tube — a container
  24. firm — steady

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