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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. mate — to breed
  3. file — a document
  4. file — a tool
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. degree — temperature
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. rush — hurry
  9. suit — in cards
  10. mug — to rob
  11. degree — from a university
  12. mate — a friend
  13. file — a line of people
  14. suit — clothes
  15. fine — high quality
  16. fine — all right
  17. mate — a partner
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. degree — an amount
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. mug — a cup
  23. suit — to fit
  24. mug — a face

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