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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. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. cap — of ice
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. roll — a list
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. roll — a cake
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. track — to keep track
  11. track — a path
  12. mine — for digging
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. cap — a hat
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. track — a song
  22. cap — a lid
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. plane — a tool

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