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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. dip — to sink
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. straw — to clutch at straws
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. season — in sport
  10. cue — for pool
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. craft — a skill
  16. season — of the year
  17. cue — a signal
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. straw — dry grass
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. craft — boats
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. cue — a hint

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