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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.

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: pop · safe · craft · mark · capital · staff · hide · ball

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. staff — employees
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. ball — a dance
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. mark — a grade
  7. pop — to visit
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. pop — soda
  10. staff — employees
  11. ball — a great time
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. capital — a big letter
  14. craft — boats
  15. mark — a trace
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. staff — a stick
  18. pop — music
  19. capital — money
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. craft — a skill
  23. capital — a city
  24. hide — to keep secret

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