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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: snap · sharp · calf · rash · suit · mine · stand · safe

  1. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  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. mine — an explosive
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. suit — to fit
  7. stand — to bear
  8. snap — to click
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. rash — a series
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. suit — clothes
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. sharp — clever
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. rash — hasty
  23. mine — for digging
  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