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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 120 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: mark · pass · ground · prune · nail · can · safe · perch

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  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 — out of danger
  2. mark — a trace
  3. can — a tin
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. can — to be able to
  7. can — a tin
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. prune — to trim
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. ground — crushed
  12. perch — the fish
  13. prune — to trim
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. ground — a position
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. ground — the earth
  21. mark — a grade
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. pass — a permit
  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