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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. False peace will not ________________.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. last — to go on
  2. object — to protest
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. last — final
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. toast — bread
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. object — a thing
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. last — finally
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. object — an aim
  23. toast — the most admired
  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