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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: wake · safe · nail · can · straw · fine · cell · fan

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. cell — in biology
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. can — a tin
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. fine — high quality
  11. cell — a phone
  12. can — a tin
  13. fine — all right
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. wake — a trail
  16. straw — a straw man
  17. can — to be able to
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. straw — dry grass
  24. wake — before a funeral

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