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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. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. cap — a hat
  3. wake — a trail
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. rash — a series
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. cap — of ice
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. foot — a measure
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. cap — a lid
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. rash — hasty
  21. craft — a skill
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. craft — boats
  24. craft — a handicraft

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