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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. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. He was locked up in a ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. rash — a series
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. cell — in a prison
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. straw — to clutch at straws
  11. toast — bread
  12. cell — a phone
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. cell — in biology
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. mine — for digging
  19. straw — dry grass
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. rash — hasty
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. rash — on the skin

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