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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.

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: field · cell · fan · safe · rock · bay · cabinet · can

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. rock — music
  6. can — to be able to
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. can — a tin
  9. field — for sport
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. cell — in biology
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. cell — a phone
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. field — a subject
  21. rock — a stone
  22. field — farmland
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. safe — out of danger

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