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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 president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. can — to be able to
  4. bore — to drill
  5. net — in sport
  6. net — for catching
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. ball — a dance
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. rash — a series
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. rash — hasty
  15. can — a tin
  16. bound — certain
  17. bound — tied together
  18. can — a tin
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. bore — to tire
  21. ball — a great time
  22. net — after costs
  23. bound — obliged
  24. squash — the sport

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