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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. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to speak sharply
  2. rash — a series
  3. press — a publisher
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. firm — decided
  6. snap — to click
  7. mate — to breed
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. firm — a company
  10. mate — a friend
  11. track — a path
  12. firm — steady
  13. mate — a partner
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. sharp — clever
  17. press — to push
  18. rash — hasty
  19. press — newspapers
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. track — a song
  24. track — to keep track

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