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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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. rock — a stone
  3. suit — in cards
  4. suit — clothes
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. object — a thing
  7. wound — an injury
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. suit — to fit
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. ball — a dance
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. object — to protest
  17. sharp — clever
  18. ball — a great time
  19. plane — a tool
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. rock — music
  22. wound — an injury
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. safe — a strongbox

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