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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: nail · safe · rock · fine · bulb · straw · mine · track

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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. rock — a stone
  4. straw — dry grass
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. fine — all right
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. track — a path
  15. straw — a straw man
  16. fine — high quality
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. track — to keep track
  19. straw — to clutch at straws
  20. mine — for digging
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. rock — music
  23. bulb — for light
  24. track — a song

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