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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. rock — a stone
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. foot — a measure
  13. saw — the tool
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. rock — music
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. ball — a dance
  18. ball — a great time
  19. saw — the tool
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. lie — to recline

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