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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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Word bank
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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: leaves · stick · firm · mug · land · rush · foot · safe

  1. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. rush — hurry
  3. firm — steady
  4. mug — to rob
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. firm — a company
  7. mug — a cup
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. land — a country
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. land — ground
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. land — to come down
  18. foot — a measure
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. firm — decided
  21. mug — a face
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. safe — a strongbox

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