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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. rock — a stone
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. rock — music
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. spell — a short time
  13. sharp — clever
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. saw — the tool
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. spell — magic
  18. spell — letters
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. saw — the tool
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. cabinet — ministers

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