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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 kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. net — in sport
  3. deal — to handle
  4. drill — army training
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. lie — to recline
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. net — for catching
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. ball — a great time
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. drill — the tool
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. craft — a skill
  18. drill — a practice
  19. net — after costs
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. craft — boats
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. ball — a dance

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