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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. spell — a short time
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. rest — what's left
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. spell — magic
  8. suit — in cards
  9. rest — a break
  10. mine — for digging
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. rest — what's left
  13. firm — decided
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. clip — for paper
  16. firm — a company
  17. plane — a tool
  18. clip — a video
  19. spell — letters
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. suit — to fit
  23. clip — to cut
  24. firm — steady

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