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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. straw — to clutch at straws
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. plane — a tool
  6. ball — a dance
  7. bound — obliged
  8. straw — a straw man
  9. ball — a great time
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. straw — dry grass
  12. object — an aim
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. object — to protest
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. bound — certain
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. object — a thing
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. bound — tied together

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