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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: foot · rest · pop · bay · degree · safe · wound · staff

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. staff — employees
  4. rest — what's left
  5. pop — soda
  6. rest — a break
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. rest — what's left
  11. pop — music
  12. foot — a measure
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. degree — an amount
  17. staff — a stick
  18. wound — an injury
  19. staff — employees
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. wound — an injury
  22. degree — temperature
  23. pop — to visit
  24. degree — from a university

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