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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: safe · snap · rash · arm · cue · press · mouse · saw

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. snap — to click
  4. press — a publisher
  5. saw — the tool
  6. press — to push
  7. saw — the tool
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. cue — a hint
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. cue — for pool
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. rash — hasty
  19. cue — a signal
  20. rash — a series
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. press — newspapers
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. safe — out of danger

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