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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. straw — a straw man
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. firm — steady
  7. rush — hurry
  8. can — a tin
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. track — a song
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. track — a path
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. straw — dry grass
  15. can — to be able to
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. straw — to clutch at straws
  18. firm — decided
  19. can — a tin
  20. track — to keep track
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. coach — a trainer

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