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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. track — a path
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. net — in sport
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. net — after costs
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. ball — a dance
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. stand — to bear
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. net — for catching
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. track — a song
  20. track — to keep track
  21. ball — a great time
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. cabinet — ministers

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