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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: suit · can · last · safe · saw · degree · wake · deal

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. False peace will not ________________.
  12. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  23. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. can — a tin
  4. suit — clothes
  5. suit — in cards
  6. degree — temperature
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. last — to go on
  12. degree — from a university
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. can — to be able to
  15. wake — a trail
  16. can — a tin
  17. deal — to handle
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. saw — the tool
  20. suit — to fit
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. last — finally
  23. degree — an amount
  24. last — final

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