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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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. False peace will not ________________.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bound — obliged
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. bound — tied together
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. last — finally
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. ball — a great time
  13. bound — certain
  14. cue — a signal
  15. scale — size or range
  16. ball — a dance
  17. cue — a hint
  18. scale — in music
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. last — final
  23. last — to go on
  24. cue — for pool

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