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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — crushed
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. rock — a stone
  5. firm — a company
  6. firm — steady
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. bulb — for light
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. rock — music
  16. ground — a position
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. ground — the earth
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. tube — a container
  21. tube — the underground
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. bulb — for light
  24. firm — decided

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