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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. deal — to handle
  12. game — a match
  13. game — wild animals
  14. rush — hurry
  15. current — of water
  16. current — happening now
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. face — part of the head
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. current — electric
  22. face — to confront
  23. face — to point toward
  24. racket — for tennis

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