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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. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. can — to be able to
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. stem — to come from
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. toast — bread
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — a tin
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. sharp — clever
  15. rash — a series
  16. straw — dry grass
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. rash — hasty
  22. straw — a straw man
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  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