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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. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. swing — in golf
  3. wound — an injury
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. swing — music
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. bear — the animal
  8. fine — high quality
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. mate — a partner
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. wound — an injury
  15. fine — all right
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. bear — the animal
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. swing — to play on
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. mate — to breed
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. mate — a friend
  24. pitcher — a jug

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