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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. firm — a company
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. scale — size or range
  7. mark — a grade
  8. bark — to shout
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. firm — decided
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. toast — bread
  17. firm — steady
  18. mark — a trace
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. scale — in music
  24. scale — for weighing

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