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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 · bark · toast · mine · nail · suit · can · safe

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. suit — to fit
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. toast — bread
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. object — an aim
  7. suit — in cards
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. object — a thing
  10. bark — a dog's sound
  11. can — to be able to
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. can — a tin
  15. object — to protest
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. mine — for digging
  20. bark — to shout
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. can — a tin
  24. suit — clothes

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