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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. can — a tin
  4. firm — a company
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. lean — to bend
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. chest — a box
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. chest — of your body
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. can — a tin
  14. firm — decided
  15. lean — thin
  16. can — to be able to
  17. chest — of your body
  18. firm — steady

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