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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. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — help
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. suit — clothes
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. rash — hasty
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. stand — to bear
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. rash — a series
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. hand — in cards
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. suit — in cards
  20. sharp — clever
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. suit — to fit
  24. sharp — with an edge

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