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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. spring — the season
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. spring — a coil
  10. mark — a trace
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. staff — a stick
  13. spring — of water
  14. kid — child
  15. kid — to tease
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. deal — to handle
  19. staff — employees
  20. chip — to eat
  21. mark — a grade
  22. chip — for betting
  23. staff — employees
  24. mouse — the animal

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