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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
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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: jam · mark · row · straw · safe · board · ruler · sharp

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. sharp — clever
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. board — a committee
  5. board — to get on
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. straw — dry grass
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. row — to paddle
  11. mark — a grade
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. mark — a trace
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. row — a line
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. straw — to clutch at straws
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. straw — a straw man

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