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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. mug — to rob
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. field — for sport
  5. mug — a cup
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. sharp — clever
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. firm — a company
  12. wake — a trail
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. field — farmland
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. rock — a stone
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. field — a subject
  19. firm — steady
  20. rock — music
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. firm — decided

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