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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. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. prune — to trim
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. suit — clothes
  13. suit — in cards
  14. sharp — clever
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. straw — a straw man
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. bass — the fish
  20. suit — to fit
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. prune — to trim
  23. bass — low music
  24. jam — in traffic

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