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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 116 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: safe · lie · firm · pitcher · mate · mark · nail · rush

  1. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  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. mate — a friend
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. firm — steady
  5. firm — decided
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. mate — a partner
  11. mark — a trace
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. lie — to recline
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. mark — a grade
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. firm — a company
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. mate — to breed
  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