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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 116 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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. content — the amount
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. stand — to bear
  5. row — to paddle
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. sharp — clever
  8. content — happy
  9. rock — music
  10. row — a line
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. saw — the tool
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. saw — the tool
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. rock — a stone

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