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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. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. rash — hasty
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. fine — high quality
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. rash — a series
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. lean — thin
  13. rock — music
  14. rock — a stone
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. fine — all right
  21. lean — to bend
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. wake — a trail

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