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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: safe · firm · bay · jam · sharp · rule · snap · hide

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. firm — decided
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. rule — to rule out
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. rule — government
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. rule — a law
  17. snap — to click
  18. firm — a company
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. sharp — clever
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. firm — steady
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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