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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  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. sharp — exactly
  2. sharp — clever
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. bark — to shout
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. rush — hurry
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. bark — of a tree
  20. stand — to bear
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. hide — to keep secret
  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