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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 came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. shower — to wash
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. shower — rain
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. bound — obliged
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. dip — to sink
  12. ball — a great time
  13. bound — tied together
  14. shower — a meteor shower
  15. bear — the animal
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. bear — the animal
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. bound — certain
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. ball — a dance
  24. safe — out of danger

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