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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. lean — to bend
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. foot — a measure
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. rash — a series
  13. lean — thin
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. track — to keep track
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. track — a path
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. track — a song
  22. rash — hasty
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. rash — on the skin

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