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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. straw — to clutch at straws
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. saw — the tool
  5. staff — employees
  6. present — there
  7. can — a tin
  8. saw — the tool
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. present — a gift
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. staff — a stick
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. can — a tin
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. present — the time now
  19. stand — to bear
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. staff — employees
  22. can — to be able to
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. straw — dry grass

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