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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. season — of the year
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. shower — rain
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. rock — a stone
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. rock — music
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. ball — a great time
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. wound — an injury
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. shower — a meteor shower
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. shower — to wash
  20. kick — in football
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. ball — a dance
  23. wound — an injury
  24. ball — a round shape

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