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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. 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. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The water is too ________________.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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. cold — an illness
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. suit — clothes
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. cold — not warm
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. suit — to fit
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. suit — in cards
  13. ball — a great time
  14. rest — what's left
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. rest — a break
  17. season — of the year
  18. ball — a dance
  19. season — in sport
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. cold — the Cold War
  24. ball — a round shape

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