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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 116 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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. pit — in a race
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. key — for a lock
  14. pit — a hole
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. sharp — clever
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. key — in music
  19. wake — a trail
  20. key — the most important part
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. snap — to click
  24. sharp — exactly

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