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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: stand · sharp · bear · nail · firm · spell · safe · mug

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. mug — a cup
  4. mug — to rob
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. bear — the animal
  7. spell — a short time
  8. firm — steady
  9. stand — to bear
  10. sharp — clever
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. spell — letters
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. firm — a company
  16. firm — decided
  17. spell — magic
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. mug — a face
  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