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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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 · mouse · rest · suit · mine · bat · wake · rash

  1. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — the animal
  2. wake — a trail
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. rash — hasty
  5. bat — for baseball
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. suit — to fit
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. suit — clothes
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. rest — what's left
  16. rest — what's left
  17. suit — in cards
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. rash — a series
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mine — for digging
  23. rest — a break
  24. bat — in an idiom

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