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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. land — a country
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. ball — a great time
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. suit — to fit
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. ball — a dance
  19. land — to come down
  20. sharp — clever
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. land — ground
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. suit — clothes

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