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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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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: fine · pit · bear · fall · foot · safe · firm · press

  1. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. fall — to drop
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. firm — steady
  5. bear — the animal
  6. fine — all right
  7. press — newspapers
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. press — to push
  12. fall — the season
  13. firm — a company
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. bear — the animal
  16. press — a publisher
  17. foot — a measure
  18. firm — decided
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. fine — high quality
  21. pit — a hole
  22. pit — in a race
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. fall — to drop

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