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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. bear — the animal
  5. fine — high quality
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. spring — of water
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. last — finally
  12. last — to go on
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. spring — the season
  15. spring — a coil
  16. bear — the animal
  17. stand — to bear
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. last — final
  24. fine — all right

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