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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 · rush · rock · net · snap · face · capital · prune

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. prune — to trim
  3. capital — a big letter
  4. net — for catching
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. snap — to click
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. face — part of the head
  10. prune — to trim
  11. net — in sport
  12. capital — a city
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. capital — money
  15. net — after costs
  16. rush — hurry
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. face — to point toward
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. face — to confront
  24. rock — music

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