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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. current — of water
  3. bound — tied together
  4. wax — to grow
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. bound — certain
  7. bound — obliged
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. face — part of the head
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. dip — to sink
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. current — happening now
  19. face — to confront
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. face — to point toward
  22. sharp — clever
  23. current — electric
  24. safe — out of danger

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