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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. ground — crushed
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. wax — to grow
  8. kick — with a leg
  9. ground — the earth
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. ground — a position
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. kick — a thrill
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. kick — in football
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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