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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. staff — a stick
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. rest — what's left
  7. staff — employees
  8. staff — employees
  9. rock — a stone
  10. pass — a permit
  11. wound — an injury
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. ball — a dance
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. rest — a break
  16. snap — to click
  17. rest — what's left
  18. ball — a great time
  19. wound — an injury
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. rock — music

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