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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 120 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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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 · safe · cap · lean · straw · suit · rush · ground

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. mark — a grade
  3. ground — a position
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. lean — thin
  7. straw — a straw man
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. rush — hurry
  10. ground — the earth
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. cap — a hat
  13. suit — to fit
  14. cap — a lid
  15. cap — of ice
  16. suit — in cards
  17. ground — crushed
  18. straw — dry grass
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. suit — clothes
  22. straw — to clutch at straws
  23. lean — to bend
  24. rush — to hurry

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