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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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. track — to keep track
  3. squash — the sport
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. squash — to crush
  6. file — a tool
  7. ball — a dance
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. track — a path
  10. file — a document
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. can — a tin
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. dip — to sink
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. can — to be able to
  18. can — a tin
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. ball — a great time
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. file — a line of people
  23. track — a song
  24. stick — a piece of wood

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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