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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  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. safe — out of danger
  2. rock — a stone
  3. hand — help
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. hand — in cards
  6. saw — the tool
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. chip — for betting
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. toast — bread
  14. chip — to eat
  15. saw — the tool
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. rock — music
  21. wax — to grow
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. chip — in a computer
  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