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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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. fine — high quality
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. object — to protest
  13. rash — hasty
  14. fine — all right
  15. object — a thing
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. dip — to sink
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. sharp — clever
  20. rush — hurry
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. rash — a series
  24. rush — to hurry

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