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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. staff — employees
  3. game — a match
  4. staff — a stick
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. rock — music
  7. can — a tin
  8. track — to keep track
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. bear — the animal
  11. can — a tin
  12. bear — the animal
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. staff — employees
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. rock — a stone
  19. pitch — completely
  20. track — a path
  21. track — a song
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. game — wild animals
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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