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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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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: stock · nail · pass · foot · pitcher · safe · fan · mug

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. stock — goods
  3. mug — to rob
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. foot — a measure
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. mug — a face
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. stock — shares
  20. pass — a permit
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. mug — a cup
  24. nail — on a finger

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