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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: dip · cabinet · bass · nail · kid · chair · mug · safe

  1. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  2. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chair — a leader
  2. chair — a professorship
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. chair — to sit on
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. dip — to sink
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. bass — low music
  11. mug — a cup
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. mug — a face
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. kid — child
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. mug — to rob
  20. kid — to tease
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  23. bass — the fish
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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