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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. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. can — a tin
  3. net — in sport
  4. court — of a king
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. court — of law
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. mate — to breed
  9. straw — a straw man
  10. can — a tin
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. court — for sport
  13. net — for catching
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. mate — a partner
  17. mate — a friend
  18. can — to be able to
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. ball — a great time
  22. ball — a dance
  23. straw — to clutch at straws
  24. net — after costs

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