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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: last · bass · safe · mug · straw · sharp · root · stick

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  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. mug — a cup
  2. straw — to clutch at straws
  3. bass — the fish
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. root — the cause
  10. sharp — clever
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. mug — to rob
  13. last — finally
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. last — final
  17. straw — dry grass
  18. mug — a face
  19. root — of a word
  20. last — to go on
  21. root — of a plant
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. bass — low music
  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