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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. mate — a friend
  3. firm — a company
  4. face — to point toward
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. rule — to rule out
  8. prune — to trim
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. firm — steady
  12. face — part of the head
  13. rule — a law
  14. sharp — clever
  15. mate — a partner
  16. mate — to breed
  17. prune — to trim
  18. vault — a safe
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. rule — government
  22. face — to confront
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. safe — out of danger

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