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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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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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. cue — for pool
  5. can — a tin
  6. cue — a signal
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. field — for sport
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. mark — a grade
  12. bass — low music
  13. field — a subject
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. cue — a hint
  16. can — a tin
  17. mark — a trace
  18. bass — the fish
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. can — to be able to
  23. field — farmland
  24. rush — hurry

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