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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.

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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. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. False peace will not ________________.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. last — finally
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. board — to get on
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. board — a committee
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. wax — to grow
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. last — to go on
  23. last — final
  24. leaves — lets stay

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