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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.

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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: pit · fan · safe · arm · straw · present · face · toast

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. present — there
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. face — part of the head
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. straw — to clutch at straws
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. pit — in a race
  10. face — to point toward
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. present — the time now
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. pit — a hole
  17. toast — bread
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. face — to confront
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. straw — dry grass
  24. present — a gift

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