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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. The ball is in your ________________.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. object — an aim
  4. can — a tin
  5. rock — music
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. court — for sport
  8. spell — magic
  9. court — of law
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. can — to be able to
  12. court — of a king
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. object — to protest
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. object — a thing
  17. spell — a short time
  18. can — a tin
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. spell — letters
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. rock — a stone

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