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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bear — the animal
  3. march — the month
  4. stock — shares
  5. rash — a series
  6. mate — a partner
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. march — music
  9. march — the month
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. stock — goods
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. fine — all right
  15. mate — to breed
  16. mate — a friend
  17. rash — hasty
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. bear — the animal
  22. fine — high quality
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. nail — for a hammer

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