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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. sharp — clever
  9. rush — hurry
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. fork — in a road
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. bound — obliged
  15. branch — a division
  16. bear — the animal
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. bound — certain
  19. bear — the animal
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. bound — tied together

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