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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. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  14. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. saw — the tool
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. current — electric
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. current — of water
  8. current — happening now
  9. deal — to handle
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. bear — the animal
  12. net — in sport
  13. kid — to tease
  14. kid — child
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. bear — the animal
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. net — for catching
  20. saw — the tool
  21. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. bear — to put up with

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