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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 120 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. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. firm — decided
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. deal — to handle
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. file — a tool
  8. file — a document
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. firm — steady
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. file — a line of people
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. mine — for digging
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. foot — a measure
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. firm — a company

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