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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. rash — a series
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. bound — certain
  9. net — for catching
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. bound — tied together
  13. net — in sport
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. bound — obliged
  16. bass — the fish
  17. rash — hasty
  18. net — after costs
  19. cue — for pool
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. vault — a safe
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. bass — low music
  24. cue — a signal

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