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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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. rest — what's left
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. rest — what's left
  5. cap — a lid
  6. rule — government
  7. lean — to bend
  8. pop — to visit
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. can — to be able to
  12. lean — thin
  13. cap — of ice
  14. pop — music
  15. rule — a law
  16. can — a tin
  17. can — a tin
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. cap — a hat
  20. rule — to rule out
  21. pop — soda
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. rest — a break

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