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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. fine — all right
  5. cap — a hat
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. mark — a grade
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. sharp — clever
  14. mark — a trace
  15. fine — high quality
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. cap — of ice
  18. board — a committee
  19. board — to get on
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. cap — a lid
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. rush — hurry

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