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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
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: fork · bay · mark · hide · rush · pop · safe · net

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. mark — a trace
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. net — after costs
  9. net — in sport
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. fork — in a road
  12. pop — to visit
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. pop — music
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. net — for catching
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. pop — soda
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. rush — hurry
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. hide — to keep secret

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