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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 116 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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. cue — a signal
  3. rash — hasty
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. band — a rubber band
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. rash — a series
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. wake — a trail
  10. band — a music group
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. band — a ring
  16. cue — a hint
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. vault — a safe
  23. cue — for pool
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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