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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. pitch — completely
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. mine — for digging
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. craft — boats
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. mug — to rob
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. craft — a skill
  16. bulb — for light
  17. sharp — clever
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. mug — a cup
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. bulb — for light
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. mug — a face

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