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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: safe · ball · lash · wound · present · mug · pop · suit

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. ball — a great time
  3. pop — to visit
  4. mug — a cup
  5. present — a gift
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. ball — a dance
  8. wound — an injury
  9. pop — music
  10. suit — clothes
  11. pop — soda
  12. wound — an injury
  13. suit — to fit
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. mug — to rob
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. suit — in cards
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. mug — a face
  22. present — there
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. ball — a round shape

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