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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: firm · sharp · prune · chip · safe · bear · cabinet · face

  1. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. face — to confront
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. firm — a company
  9. chip — to eat
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. bear — the animal
  12. chip — for betting
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. face — part of the head
  15. sharp — clever
  16. prune — to trim
  17. bear — the animal
  18. firm — steady
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. firm — decided
  23. prune — to trim
  24. safe — out of danger

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