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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: staff · mark · sharp · stand · safe · vault · march · rock

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. staff — employees
  3. march — the month
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. staff — employees
  8. rock — music
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. staff — a stick
  12. march — the month
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. mark — a grade
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. sharp — clever
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. rock — a stone
  20. stand — to bear
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. vault — a safe
  23. march — music
  24. safe — out of danger

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