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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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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: object · safe · nail · lie · toast · mark · pop · sharp

  1. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. toast — bread
  3. object — to protest
  4. pop — music
  5. mark — a grade
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. sharp — clever
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. object — an aim
  11. lie — to recline
  12. object — a thing
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. mark — a trace
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. pop — to visit
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. nail — for a hammer

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