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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: safe · spell · sharp · hand · mug · ball · bark · tube

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. spell — magic
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. spell — letters
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. sharp — clever
  8. mug — a cup
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. hand — in cards
  14. ball — a great time
  15. bark — to shout
  16. mug — a face
  17. tube — a container
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. tube — the underground
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. ball — a dance
  22. hand — help
  23. mug — to rob
  24. tube — in a tire

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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