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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 120 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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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: lean · foot · wave · drill · sharp · bulb · safe · board

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. sharp — clever
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. bulb — for light
  8. board — to get on
  9. lean — thin
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. bulb — for light
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. lean — to bend
  15. foot — a measure
  16. drill — a practice
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. board — a committee
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. drill — the tool
  24. drill — army training

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