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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's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. key — for a lock
  4. stem — to come from
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. bear — the animal
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. board — to get on
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. bear — the animal
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. board — a committee
  16. key — the most important part
  17. perch — the fish
  18. key — in music
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. sharp — with an edge

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