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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  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. safe — out of danger
  2. degree — temperature
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. degree — from a university
  6. stand — to bear
  7. track — a song
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. track — to keep track
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. net — in sport
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. degree — an amount
  16. track — a path
  17. net — for catching
  18. rush — hurry
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  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