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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: kid · safe · mouse · pit · object · ball · trunk · leaves

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. ball — a great time
  3. object — a thing
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. ball — a dance
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. kid — to tease
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. object — an aim
  17. kid — child
  18. pit — a hole
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. object — to protest
  22. pit — in a race
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. leaves — lets stay

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