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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. wound — an injury
  3. can — a tin
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. wound — an injury
  8. degree — temperature
  9. suit — clothes
  10. pass — a permit
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. degree — from a university
  15. can — to be able to
  16. suit — to fit
  17. bass — the fish
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. bass — low music
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. can — a tin
  23. degree — an amount
  24. suit — in cards

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