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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
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: suit · bass · ball · field · safe · tear · ground · perch

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  23. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. perch — the fish
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. ball — a dance
  7. field — farmland
  8. tear — from crying
  9. ground — a position
  10. tear — to rip
  11. ground — the earth
  12. suit — clothes
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. suit — to fit
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. ball — a great time
  17. ground — crushed
  18. suit — in cards
  19. bass — the fish
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bass — low music
  22. tear — from crying
  23. field — a subject
  24. field — for sport

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