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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. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. ball — a great time
  4. spell — letters
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. band — a ring
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. spell — magic
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. ball — a dance
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. spell — a short time
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. band — a music group
  23. stand — to bear
  24. cabinet — ministers

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