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

Word bank: toast · plane · perch · deal · mate · mine · cabinet · safe

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. perch — the fish
  5. toast — bread
  6. deal — to handle
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. mine — for digging
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. plane — a tool
  13. mate — to breed
  14. mate — a friend
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. mate — a partner
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. mine — an explosive

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