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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. kick — in football
  4. sharp — clever
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. saw — the tool
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. bass — low music
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — to be able to
  12. squash — the sport
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. kick — a thrill
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. can — a tin
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. saw — the tool
  22. bass — the fish
  23. fine — all right
  24. squash — to crush

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