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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: nail · content · vault · fall · staff · chip · sharp · safe

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. fall — the season
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. content — the amount
  7. fall — to drop
  8. vault — a safe
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. staff — a stick
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. staff — employees
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. staff — employees
  16. chip — for betting
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. content — happy
  19. content — videos and posts
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. chip — to eat
  22. fall — to drop
  23. sharp — clever
  24. nail — for a hammer

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