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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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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: fall · perch · sharp · content · press · safe · key · calf

  1. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. press — newspapers
  4. content — happy
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. content — the amount
  7. fall — the season
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. key — the most important part
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. key — in music
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. key — for a lock
  15. sharp — clever
  16. press — to push
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. content — videos and posts
  19. fall — to drop
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. perch — the fish
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. press — a publisher

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