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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
468
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: lean · nail · bank · sharp · toast · mine · chip · safe

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. toast — bread
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. lean — to bend
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. chip — to eat
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. lean — thin
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. bank — for money
  19. chip — for betting
  20. mine — for digging
  21. sharp — clever
  22. bank — of a river
  23. bank — for money
  24. toast — the most admired

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