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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. lean — thin
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. press — newspapers
  6. sharp — clever
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. lean — to bend
  11. press — a publisher
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. craft — a skill
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. press — to push
  16. craft — boats
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. pit — a hole
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. safe — a strongbox

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