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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. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. When are we going to ________________?
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. firm — a company
  3. firm — steady
  4. track — a song
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. land — to come down
  7. track — a path
  8. net — for catching
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. land — a country
  12. rush — hurry
  13. firm — decided
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. track — to keep track
  16. land — ground
  17. net — in sport
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. rock — a stone
  24. rock — music

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