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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 116 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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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. rest — what's left
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. can — a tin
  8. rest — a break
  9. plane — a tool
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. snap — to click
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. rest — what's left
  17. prune — to trim
  18. can — a tin
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. prune — to trim
  23. can — to be able to
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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