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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. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bear — the animal
  3. wax — to grow
  4. bat — in an idiom
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pit — a hole
  7. bear — the animal
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. rest — a break
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. pit — in a race
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. bat — for baseball
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. rest — what's left
  21. rash — a series
  22. rest — what's left
  23. rash — hasty
  24. bat — the animal

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