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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 120 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: club · squash · mouse · bore · track · ball · mark · safe

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. club — for dancing
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. ball — a dance
  5. squash — to crush
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. track — to keep track
  8. mark — a grade
  9. bore — to tire
  10. track — a path
  11. bore — to drill
  12. club — for golf
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. track — a song
  15. mark — a trace
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. squash — the sport
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. club — a group
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. mouse — the animal

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