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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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. pop — to visit
  3. pop — soda
  4. bark — of a tree
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. bark — to shout
  14. snap — to click
  15. bark — a dog's sound
  16. net — in sport
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. pop — music
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. net — after costs

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