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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. net — after costs
  4. bound — obliged
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. last — to go on
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. bound — tied together
  9. net — for catching
  10. bound — certain
  11. cap — of ice
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. cap — a hat
  14. pit — a hole
  15. last — finally
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. object — to protest
  19. cap — a lid
  20. net — in sport
  21. object — a thing
  22. object — an aim
  23. dip — to sink
  24. last — final

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