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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. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. mine — for digging
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. face — to confront
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. face — part of the head
  12. face — to point toward
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. wax — to grow
  17. craft — a skill
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. craft — boats
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. stand — to bear

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