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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.

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: hand · dip · foot · sharp · safe · stick · swing · mug

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. mug — to rob
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. sharp — clever
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. foot — a measure
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. swing — in golf
  13. hand — help
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. swing — to play on
  16. dip — to sink
  17. stick — to attach or keep to
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. swing — music
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. mug — a face
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. hand — in cards

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