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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 120 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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. object — a thing
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. squash — to crush
  8. bore — to tire
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. sharp — clever
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. bore — to drill
  19. squash — the sport
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. straw — dry grass
  22. object — to protest
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. straw — a straw man

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