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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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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 · spell · ball · mug · lie · cabinet · calf · saw

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. saw — the tool
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. spell — magic
  5. lie — to recline
  6. mug — to rob
  7. saw — the tool
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. mug — a face
  13. ball — a dance
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. spell — a short time
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. ball — a great time
  21. spell — letters
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. mug — a cup

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