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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. bass — low music
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. bass — the fish
  8. sharp — clever
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. bore — to tire
  11. rock — a stone
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. rock — music
  22. bore — to drill
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. bowl — to roll

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