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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. board — to get on
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. bass — the fish
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. vault — a safe
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. sharp — clever
  17. lean — to bend
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. board — a committee
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. bass — low music
  23. lean — thin
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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