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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  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. rock — a stone
  2. wound — an injury
  3. court — of a king
  4. rush — hurry
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. wake — a trail
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. court — of law
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. court — for sport
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. wound — an injury
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. rock — music
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. mouse — the animal
  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