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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.

Make a worksheet

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: foot · cell · safe · jam · scale · object · can · mine

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. He was locked up in a ________________.
  7. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. mine — for digging
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. can — a tin
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. cell — in a prison
  7. cell — a phone
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. can — a tin
  10. cell — in biology
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. object — to protest
  16. foot — a measure
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. scale — in music
  19. scale — size or range
  20. object — an aim
  21. can — to be able to
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. object — a thing

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