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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. David sat on the ________________.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — to play on
  2. swing — in golf
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. firm — steady
  5. degree — an amount
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. can — a tin
  8. fine — high quality
  9. track — a path
  10. swing — music
  11. degree — temperature
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. can — a tin
  14. track — to keep track
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. degree — from a university
  17. fine — all right
  18. can — to be able to
  19. track — a song
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. sharp — clever
  22. firm — decided
  23. firm — a company
  24. fine — a penalty

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