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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. wake — a trail
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. squash — to crush
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. row — a line
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. row — to paddle
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. squash — the sport
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. safe — a strongbox

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