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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: mark · pop · perch · saw · ball · bay · safe · sharp

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. mark — a trace
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. pop — music
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. pop — soda
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. mark — a grade
  11. pop — to visit
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. saw — the tool
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. sharp — clever
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. perch — the fish
  20. ball — a dance
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. ball — a great time
  23. saw — the tool
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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