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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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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: fine · stock · charge · lash · safe · nail · staff · land

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. land — to come down
  3. fine — high quality
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. charge — in control
  8. fine — all right
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. land — ground
  13. staff — a stick
  14. land — a country
  15. staff — employees
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. stock — goods
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. staff — employees
  22. charge — a price
  23. charge — electricity
  24. stock — shares

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