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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. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. net — for catching
  3. bear — the animal
  4. pit — in a race
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. bear — the animal
  7. net — in sport
  8. fall — the season
  9. content — the amount
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. fall — to drop
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. content — happy
  15. fall — to drop
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. net — after costs
  18. ball — a dance
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. pit — a hole
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. ball — a great time

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