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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. content — happy
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. mug — a cup
  5. content — videos and posts
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. content — the amount
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. sharp — clever
  11. fall — to drop
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. fall — the season
  18. mug — to rob
  19. fall — to drop
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. pit — in a race
  23. pit — a hole
  24. pitcher — a jug

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