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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 124 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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  19. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. chip — for betting
  4. bore — to tire
  5. bear — the animal
  6. rock — music
  7. ball — a dance
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. lie — to recline
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. chip — to eat
  13. prune — to trim
  14. straw — dry grass
  15. bear — the animal
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. straw — a straw man
  19. straw — to clutch at straws
  20. rock — a stone
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. ball — a great time
  23. bore — to drill
  24. prune — to trim

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