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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. firm — steady
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. sharp — clever
  7. pop — soda
  8. net — in sport
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. net — for catching
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. firm — a company
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. net — after costs
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. hand — in cards
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. hand — help
  20. pop — music
  21. firm — decided
  22. pop — to visit
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. safe — a strongbox

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