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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. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the sport
  2. rush — hurry
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. wax — to grow
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. staff — a stick
  11. track — a song
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. squash — to crush
  19. track — to keep track
  20. track — a path
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. staff — employees
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. staff — employees

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