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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: rush · content · safe · straw · deal · press · sharp · rock

  1. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. content — the amount
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. sharp — clever
  12. rock — music
  13. deal — to handle
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. content — happy
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. press — newspapers
  19. rock — a stone
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. rush — hurry
  23. press — a publisher
  24. press — to push

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