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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. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. pitch — completely
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. ball — a dance
  5. rock — a stone
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. rush — hurry
  10. rock — music
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. lie — to recline
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. ball — a great time
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. wake — a trail
  24. rush — to hurry

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