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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 ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. march — music
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. net — after costs
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. net — in sport
  10. saw — the tool
  11. saw — the tool
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. march — the month
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. net — for catching
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. march — the month
  23. pitcher — a jug
  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