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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: mouse · firm · can · spell · rest · safe · bass · dip

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. firm — steady
  5. dip — to sink
  6. spell — magic
  7. firm — a company
  8. can — a tin
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. spell — a short time
  14. can — a tin
  15. bass — low music
  16. rest — a break
  17. can — to be able to
  18. firm — decided
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. rest — what's left
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. spell — letters
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. rest — what's left

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