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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 120 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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. fine — high quality
  11. straw — to clutch at straws
  12. sharp — clever
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. straw — dry grass
  15. rush — hurry
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. fine — all right
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. rush — to hurry

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