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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: safe · game · scale · bound · staff · pitcher · toast · nail

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. scale — size or range
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. staff — employees
  5. bound — obliged
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. scale — in music
  12. toast — bread
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. game — wild animals
  15. staff — employees
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. staff — a stick
  19. bound — tied together
  20. bound — certain
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. pitcher — a jug

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