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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 120 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: drill · net · sharp · stem · safe · calf · saw · pass

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. drill — the tool
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. net — for catching
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. net — after costs
  8. pass — a permit
  9. sharp — clever
  10. drill — a practice
  11. net — in sport
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. drill — army training
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. saw — the tool
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. saw — the tool
  23. stem — to come from
  24. calf — a young animal

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