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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. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. mate — a friend
  3. rash — a series
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. firm — steady
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. mate — to breed
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. firm — decided
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mate — a partner
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. mark — a grade
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. wax — to grow
  20. firm — a company
  21. rash — hasty
  22. mark — a trace
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. fork — in a road

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