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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.

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: squash · safe · cap · bear · chair · ball · hand · rock

  1. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. ball — a dance
  3. hand — in cards
  4. hand — help
  5. ball — a great time
  6. cap — a lid
  7. squash — the sport
  8. squash — to crush
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. chair — to sit on
  11. rock — a stone
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. rock — music
  14. bear — the animal
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. chair — a professorship
  18. cap — a hat
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. chair — a leader
  23. bear — the animal
  24. cap — of ice

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