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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. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. net — after costs
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. can — a tin
  6. object — an aim
  7. mark — a grade
  8. object — a thing
  9. saw — the tool
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. can — to be able to
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. saw — the tool
  17. object — to protest
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. wound — an injury
  20. can — a tin
  21. net — in sport
  22. wound — an injury
  23. mark — a trace
  24. net — for catching

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