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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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: can · net · mug · safe · deal · sharp

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. net — after costs
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. mug — a cup
  5. sharp — clever
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. can — a tin
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. net — for catching
  11. mug — a face
  12. net — in sport
  13. mug — to rob
  14. deal — to handle
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. can — to be able to
  18. safe — out of danger

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