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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 120 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. There's no middle ________________.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. ground — the earth
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. ground — crushed
  5. cap — of ice
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. game — a match
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. sharp — clever
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. game — wild animals
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. cap — a hat
  18. cap — a lid
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. rush — hurry
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. game — a kind of play

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