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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. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — crushed
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. saw — the tool
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. ground — a position
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. ground — the earth
  23. saw — the tool
  24. safe — out of danger

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