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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. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. bat — in an idiom
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. track — to keep track
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. suit — to fit
  10. bat — the animal
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. suit — in cards
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. lie — to recline
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. bat — for baseball
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. suit — clothes
  24. track — a song

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