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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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. saw — the tool
  4. cue — a hint
  5. rash — a series
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. cue — for pool
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. rash — hasty
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. pit — in a race
  15. pit — a hole
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. deal — to handle
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. saw — the tool
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. cue — a signal
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. cabinet — ministers

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