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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: stock · sharp · spell · mine · object · fan · suit · safe

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. object — to protest
  6. object — an aim
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. suit — clothes
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. mine — for digging
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. suit — in cards
  14. spell — letters
  15. suit — to fit
  16. spell — magic
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. stock — goods
  19. sharp — clever
  20. object — a thing
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. stock — shares

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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