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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: safe · mug · pop · foot · race · rash · rest · wake

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. rash — hasty
  3. race — a contest
  4. rest — what's left
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. rash — a series
  7. rest — a break
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. foot — a measure
  10. mug — to rob
  11. rest — what's left
  12. mug — a face
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. pop — music
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. wake — a trail
  19. race — the arms race
  20. mug — a cup
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. pop — soda
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. race — humankind

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