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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.

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: sharp · safe · perch · racket · rock · stick · game · fan

  1. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. sharp — clever
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. rock — music
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. perch — the fish
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. game — wild animals
  16. rock — a stone
  17. game — a match
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. safe — a strongbox

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