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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. bear — the animal
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. bear — the animal
  8. current — happening now
  9. current — of water
  10. current — electric
  11. sharp — clever
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. date — the fruit

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