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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: spell · content · saw · hide · safe · sharp · wake · mug

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. content — the amount
  7. spell — a short time
  8. wake — a trail
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. sharp — clever
  11. mug — a cup
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. saw — the tool
  14. mug — to rob
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. spell — letters
  17. spell — magic
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. saw — the tool
  23. mug — a face
  24. content — happy

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